Japanese destroyer Shirakumo (1927)

Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships. The Fubuki class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated . The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies. Shirakumo, built at the Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka was laid down on 27 October 1926, launched on 27 December 1927 and commissioned on 28 July 1928. Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 42”, she was completed as Shirakumo. ==Operational history==

On completion, Shirakumo was assigned to Destroyer Division 11 under the IJN 2nd Fleet. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Shirakumo was assigned to patrols of the southern China coast and participated in the Invasion of French Indochina in 1940. World War II history At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Shirakumo was assigned to Destroyer Division 12 of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and had deployed from Kure Naval District to the port of Samah on Hainan Island. She rescued survivors from the torpedoed destroyer on 23 December. In February 1942, Shirakumo was part of the escort for the heavy cruiser during "Operation L" (the invasion of Banka and Palembang in the Netherlands East Indies. On 14 February she sank a British cable-laying ship off Singapore. On 10 March, Shirakumo was reassigned to Destroyer Division 20 of Destroyer Squadron 3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and subsequently was involved in "Operation T" (the invasion of northern Sumatra) on 12 March On 6 April during the Indian Ocean raids, Shirakumo, together with and sank the British steamships Silksworth, Autolycus, Malda and Shinkuang and the American steamship Exmoor. From 13–22 April Shirakumo returned via Singapore and Camranh Bay to Kure Naval Arsenal, for maintenance. After repairs were completed by 1 April 1943, Shirakumo was reassigned to Destroyer Division 9 of Destroyer Squadron 1 in the IJN 5th Fleet, for patrols and escort missions off Hokkaidō and the Chishima Islands. On 6 June 1943, she collided with the destroyer in heavy fog off Paramushiro, and was forced to put into Hakodate for repairs, which were not completed to the end of September, when she resumed her patrol and escort duties. On 16 March 1944, after departing Kushiro in northern Hokkaidō with a troop convoy for Uruppu Island, Shirakumo was torpedoed by the US submarine east of Muroran at position . She sank instantly; there were no survivors. On 31 March 1944, Shirakumo was struck from the navy list. ==Notes==