Shimakaze
Encyclopedia
(Island Wind) was a one-off super-destroyer
built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
during World War II
. She was armed with six 127 mm (5 in) dual purpose gun
s and conventional anti-aircraft
and anti-submarine weaponry
. More importantly, she was the only Japanese destroyer to be armed with 15 torpedo tube
s each capable of firing the deadly 610 mm (24 in) Type 93 "Long Lance"
torpedo
. The ship was a testbed for an enormously-powerful, high-temperature, high-pressure steam engine
that was able to develop nearly 80000 shp. This made her one of the fastest destroyers in the world: her designed speed was 39 kn (76.4 km/h; 47.5 mph), but on trials she made 40.9 kn (80.2 km/h; 49.8 mph).
, Shimakaze was laid down in Maizuru Naval Arsenal
in August 1941 and completed on 10 May 1943.
Japan had intended to lay down 16 similar destroyers, with long-term plans—the 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme—for a total of 32 to equip four destroyer squadrons, but a lack of industrial capacity prevented them from being realized.
. In October 1944, she was present at the Battle of Leyte Gulf
, although she played no role in the battle except for picking up survivors from the sunken battleship
. While serving as the flagship
of Destroyer Squadron 2 under the command of Rear Admiral
Mikio Hayakawa, she was attacked and sunk by American aircraft from Task Force 38
on 11 November 1944 during the Battle of Ormoc Bay
.
—which made construction of sister ship
s virtually impossible—during a speed test on 7 April 1943, she was clocked at 40.9 kn (80.2 km/h; 49.8 mph) with an engine output of 79240 shp.
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. She was armed with six 127 mm (5 in) dual purpose gun
Dual purpose gun
A dual purpose gun is a naval artillery mounting designed to engage both surface and air targets.-Description:Second World War-era capital ships had four classes of artillery: the heavy main battery, intended to engage opposing battleships and cruisers ; a secondary battery for use against enemy...
s and conventional anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
and anti-submarine weaponry
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
. More importantly, she was the only Japanese destroyer to be armed with 15 torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s each capable of firing the deadly 610 mm (24 in) Type 93 "Long Lance"
Type 93 torpedo
The Type 93 was a -diameter torpedo of the Imperial Japanese Navy , launched from surface ships. It is commonly referred to as the Long Lance by most modern English-language naval historians, a nickname given it after the war by Samuel E. Morison, the chief historian of the U.S...
torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
. The ship was a testbed for an enormously-powerful, high-temperature, high-pressure steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
that was able to develop nearly 80000 shp. This made her one of the fastest destroyers in the world: her designed speed was 39 kn (76.4 km/h; 47.5 mph), but on trials she made 40.9 kn (80.2 km/h; 49.8 mph).
Building
Ordered in 1939 under the 4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1939)
The was one of the armaments expansion plan of the Imperial Japanese Navy .-Background:In 1939, the IJN started new naval armaments expansion plan...
, Shimakaze was laid down in Maizuru Naval Arsenal
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the...
in August 1941 and completed on 10 May 1943.
Japan had intended to lay down 16 similar destroyers, with long-term plans—the 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme—for a total of 32 to equip four destroyer squadrons, but a lack of industrial capacity prevented them from being realized.
Service history
In June 1943, she participated in the evacuation of Japanese troops from Kiska Island towards the end of the Aleutian Islands campaign. She was present in June 1944 at the Battle of the Philippine SeaBattle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
. In October 1944, she was present at the Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the "Battles for Leyte Gulf", and formerly known as the "Second Battle of the Philippine Sea", is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.It was fought in waters...
, although she played no role in the battle except for picking up survivors from the sunken battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
. While serving as the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of Destroyer Squadron 2 under the command of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Mikio Hayakawa, she was attacked and sunk by American aircraft from Task Force 38
Fast Carrier Task Force
The Fast Carrier Task Force was the main striking force of the United States Navy in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II.The Fast Carrier Task Force was known under two designations. The Navy made use of two sets of upper command structures for planning the upcoming operations...
on 11 November 1944 during the Battle of Ormoc Bay
Battle of Ormoc Bay
The Battle of Ormoc Bay was a series of air-sea battles between Imperial Japan and the United States in the Camotes Sea in the Philippines between 11 November and 21 December 1944, part of the Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II. The battles resulted from Japanese operations to...
.
Speed test
Shimakaze was powered with an experimental steam turbineSteam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
—which made construction of sister ship
Sister ship
A sister ship is a ship of the same class as, or of virtually identical design to, another ship. Such vessels share a near-identical hull and superstructure layout, similar displacement, and roughly comparable features and equipment...
s virtually impossible—during a speed test on 7 April 1943, she was clocked at 40.9 kn (80.2 km/h; 49.8 mph) with an engine output of 79240 shp.
Ships in class
| Ship | Ship No. | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Stricken from Record on 10 January 1945 | |
| 16 destroyers (Super Shimakaze Super Shimakaze class destroyer The Super Shimakaze class destroyers were a projected class of destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy , developed during the Second World War. The intention was to develop a mass-production destroyer based on the experimental destroyer Shimakaze. The IJN Fleet Command gave them the project number... ) |
733-748 | Cancelled and re-planned on 30 June 1942 to: 8 × Yūgumo-class (Ship # 5041-5048) 7 × Super Akizuki-class Super Akizuki class destroyer The Super Akizuki-class destroyer were a projected class of destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy , developed during the Second World War. The intention was to develop a faster destroyer based on the Akizuki-class. The IJN Technical Department gave them the project number V7... (Ship # 5077-5083) |