Destroyers: Kagerō Class

[Brian James]

Kagerō Class Destroyer Shiranui pictured in Maizuru Naval Arsenal Dry Dock No 2 on September 17th 1942, whilst undergoing repairs caused by her 'encounter' with USS Growler....On June 28th 1942, she was assigned to escort the Aircraft Carrier Chiyoda to Kiska in the Aleutian Islands on a supply mission. On July 5th, while outside Kiska Harbor, she was hit amidships by a torpedo fired by Gato Class Submarine USS Growler, which severed her bow, killing three crewmen. Her crew managed to keep her afloat and she took two months to limp back to Maizuru under tow, where she remained under repairs until November 15th 1943. During these repairs, her 'X'-turret was replaced by two additional triple Type 96 25mm AA guns....During the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 24th–25th 1944, Shiranui was assigned to Vice Admiral Shōji Nishimura’s diversionary force at the Battle of Surigao Strait. After the battle, she departed Coron to search for the missing Cruiser Kinu and Destroyer Uranami, and took on survivors from the Destroyer Hayashimo. On October 27th she was sunk with all hands by dive-bombers from USS Enterprise, 80 miles north of Iloilo, Panay.