View source for Japanese destroyer Shimakaze (1942)

{{short description|Destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy}}
{{other ships|Japanese destroyer Shimakaze}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Shimakaze.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Shimakaze'' on sea trials at Miyazu Bay, 5 May 1943
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''Shimakaze'' class
| Operators = *{{navy|Empire of Japan}}
| Class before = {{sclass|Yūgumo|destroyer|4}}
| Class after = {{sclass|Super Shimakaze|destroyer|4}} (planned)
| Subclasses = 
| Cost = 
| Built Range = 
| In service range = 
| In commission range = 
| Total of ships building = 
| Total of ships planned = 
| Total of ships completed = 1
| Total of ships cancelled = 
| Total of ships lost = 1
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = [[Empire of Japan]]
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Shimakaze''
| Ship namesake = {{nihongo|島風||''Island Wind''}}
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Maizuru Naval Arsenal]]
| Ship laid down = 8 August 1941
| Ship launched = 18 July 1942
| Ship completed = 
| Ship commissioned = 10 May 1943
| Ship struck = 10 January 1945
| Ship fate = Sunk in the [[Battle of Ormoc Bay]], 11 November 1944
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = 
| Ship type = Experimental [[Destroyer]]
| Ship displacement = *{{convert|2570|LT|t|0|lk=on}} (standard)<ref name="Ford">Ford, Roger (2001) ''The Encyclopedia of Ships'', pg. 403-404. Amber Books, London. {{ISBN|978-1-905704-43-9}}</ref>
*{{convert|3300|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} (full load)<ref name="Ford"/>
| Ship length = *{{convert|129.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]
*{{convert|126|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Waterline length|w/l]]
| Ship beam = {{convert|11.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft = {{convert|4.15|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="Ford"/>
| Ship power =*3 × [[water-tube boiler]]s
* {{cvt|75000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
| Ship propulsion =2 × shafts; 2 × geared [[steam turbine]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|40.9|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{cvt|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|18|kn}}
| Ship complement = 267 (May 1943)
| Ship armament = *'''As Built:''' 6 × [[12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval gun|12.7 cm Type 3]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s (3x2)
*6 × {{convert|25|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 25mm anti-aircraft gun]]s (2x3)<ref name="Ford"/>
*2 × [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|{{convert|13.2|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] anti-aircraft [[machine gun]]s (1x2)
*15 × {{convert|610|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (3x5)
*18 [[depth charge]]s
*'''Early 1944 Refit:''' 6 × 12.7 cm Type 3 dual-purpose guns (3x2)
*16 × Type 96 anti-aircraft guns (4x3, 2x2) (increased in June to 28)<ref name="Ford"/>
*15 × {{convert|610|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (3x5)
*36 depth charges
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

{{nihongo|'''''Shimakaze'''''|島風|''Island Wind''}} was an experimental [[destroyer]] of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] during [[World War II]], and intended as the [[lead ship]] in a projected new "Type C" of destroyers. She was the only destroyer to be armed with 15 [[torpedo tube]]s, each capable of firing the deadly {{convert|610|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[Type 93 torpedo|Type 93 "Long Lance"]] [[torpedo]]. The ship also served as a testbed for an enormously powerful, high-temperature, high-pressure [[steam turbine]] that was able to develop {{convert|79240|shp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}. This made her one of the fastest destroyers in the world: her design speed was {{convert|39|kn|lk=in}}, but on trials she made {{convert|40.9|kn}}.

==Background==
Ordered in 1939 under the [[4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1939)|4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme]], ''Shimakaze'' was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at [[Maizuru Naval Arsenal]] in August 1941 and completed on 10 May 1943. Under the 1941 [[5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1941)|5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme]], a total of 16 ''Shimakaze''-class destroyers were budgeted, with long term plans to build a total of 32 vessels to equip four destroyer squadrons. However, the complexity of the design, coupled with the lack of industrial capacity and resources during the [[Pacific War]], prevented these plans from being realized.<ref name="Stille">{{cite book |last1=Stille |first1=Mark |title=Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2) |date=2013 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, UK |isbn=978-1-84908-987-6 |pages=28–30}}</ref>

==Design==
''Shimakaze'' was based on a lengthened version of the {{sclass|Yugumo|destroyer|5}} design, with an additional 25 feet of length to mount an additional quintuple torpedo launcher amidships. The additional weight caused the design to be top-heavy, so no torpedo reloads were carried; however, with a broadside of  three quintuple mounts which could be trained to either port or starboard, ''Shimakaze'' had one of the largest torpedo capacities of any World War II destroyer.<ref name="Stille"/>

The [[main battery]] used on the ''Yugumo''-class of six [[Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval gun]]s in three twin-[[gun turret]]s, one [[superfiring]] pair aft and one turret forward of the [[superstructure]], was retained as well as the anti-aircraft battery of two twin-mount [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun|Type 96 AA guns]], and anti-submarine capability of 18 [[depth charge]]s. She was also equipped with a Type 22 radar.<ref name="Stille"/>

Her new experimental high temperature and pressure [[Kampon]] boilers developed {{convert|79240|shp|lk=in}}, powering a new type of turbine, which generated 50 percent more power than typical turbines used in previous destroyers. She was expected to reach a speed of 39 kn. However, during her trials on 7 April 1943, she was clocked at {{convert|40.90|kn}},<ref name="Stille"/> faster than initially planned.

In June 1944, during repairs and refit in Japan, her anti-aircraft capacity was enhanced with the additional set of triple Type 96 guns, seven single Type 96 guns, and one single [[Hotchkiss M1929 machine gun|Type 93 13mm machine gun]], together with a Type 13 radar.<ref name="Stille"/>

==Service history==
On completion at Maizuru on 10 May 1943,  ''Shimakaze'' was assigned to the [[1st Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|IJN 1st Fleet]], and participated in the evacuation of Japanese troops from [[Kiska Island]] towards the end of the [[Aleutian Islands campaign]] from July to August, serving as [[flagship]] for the screening force. In September and October, she was used to escort vessels between Yokosuka and [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], and at the end of October escorted the fleet from Truk to [[Eniwetok]] due to increasing American air raids. She continued to serve as an escort to ships between Truk and Rabaul and between Truk and Yokosuka though November, and during December and January 1944 she escorted tankers between Truk, [[Saipan]], [[Palau]], [[Davao (province)|Davao]] and [[Balikpapan]]. She was refitted at [[Kure Naval Arsenal]] from 17 March to 12 April 1944.  From 20 April to 12 June, she was part of the escort to the {{ship|Japanese battleship|Yamato||2}} and {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Maya||2}} from Kure to [[Manila]], followed by [[Biak]] to cover the aborted evacuation of Japanese forces. Afterwards, she returned to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs and enhancement of her anti-aircraft weaponry. In July, she escorted troop transports to [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] and continued on to [[Lingga Islands|Lingga]], arriving in [[Brunei]] on 20 October.<ref name="Nevitt">{{cite web |last1=Nevitt |first1=Allan |title=IJN Shimakaze: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/shimak_t.htm |website=Combined Fleet.com}}</ref>

She was present at the 23–25 October [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], although she played no role in the battle except for picking up survivors from the sunken [[battleship]] {{ship|Japanese battleship|Musashi||2}} and cruiser ''Maya''. Overloaded with survivors, she stayed at the rear of the fleet during the [[Battle off Samar]] and was unable to use her vaunted torpedo broadside. However, she did suffer minor damage due to air attacks and a minor collision with {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Akishimo||2}}. She returned to Manila on 31 October.<ref name="Nevitt"/>
[[File:Shimakaze 1944-11-11.jpg|thumb|''Shimakaze'' maneuvering during her final battle, [[battle of Ormoc Bay]], November 11th 1944]]
On 4 November, ''Shimakaze'' was appointed flagship of Destroyer Squadron 2 under the command of [[Rear Admiral]] [[Mikio Hayakawa]], and assigned to escort a troop convoy from Manila to [[Ormoc]]. She was attacked by American aircraft from [[Fast Carrier Task Force|Task Force 38]] on 11 November 1944 during the [[Battle of Ormoc Bay]], and disabled by strafing and near misses early in the attack. She drifted and burned for several hours before exploding and sinking at {{coord|10|50|N|124|35|E|display=title, inline}}. A total of 131 survivors were rescued, but this total also included crewmen from {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Wakatsuki||2}}, so the total from  ''Shimakaze'' is unknown. Admiral Hayakawa was killed in action.  ''Shimakaze'' was removed from the [[navy list]] on 10 January 1945.<ref name="Nevitt"/>

=== Wreck ===
''Shimakaze'' was discovered by a [[Paul Allen]]-led expedition aboard {{RV|Petrel}} in Ormoc Bay on 1 December 2017, 715&nbsp;ft (218 m) below the surface. She was a mangled wreck but the three quintuple torpedo tube launchers confirmed her identity.<ref name="Allen">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1547103715325104&set=a.1547103538658455|title=RV Petrel|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2017-12-15}}</ref> Photographs from the wreck also debunked the assertion that she had one of her turrets removed in an early 1944 refit.<ref name="Allen"/>

==Ships in class==
{| class="wikitable" 
! width=120 | Ship
!Ship No.
!Fate
|-
|{{nihongo|''Shimakaze''|島風}}
|125
|Exploded on 11 November 1944 after being attacked by American aircraft.  Struck from record on 10 January 1945
|-
|16 destroyers<br/>({{sclass|Super Shimakaze|destroyer|5}})
|733-748
|Cancelled and re-planned on 30 June 1942 to: <br/>8 × {{sclass|Yūgumo|destroyer|4}} (Ship # 5041-5048)<br/>7 × {{sclass|Super Akizuki|destroyer|4}} (Ship # 5077-5083)
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|first=M.J.|last=Whitley|title=Destroyers of World War 2|year=1988|publisher=Cassell Publishing|isbn=1-85409-521-8}}
*''Collection of writings by Sizuo Fukui Vol.5, Stories of Japanese Destroyers'', Kōjinsha (Japan) 1993, {{ISBN|4-7698-0611-6}}
*''The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.41 Japanese Destroyers I'', Ushio Shobō (Japan), July 1980, Book code 68343-42
*{{cite book|author1=Ford, Roger |author2=Gibbons, Tony |author3=Hewson, Rob |author4=Jackson, Bob |author5=Ross, David |year=2001| title=The Encyclopedia of Ships|pages=403–404|publisher=Amber Books, Ltd.|location=London|isbn= 978-1-905704-43-9}}

==External links==
*[http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/japan/destroyers/pages/shimakaze.htm MaritimeQuest Shimakaze Page]
*[http://www.combinedfleet.com/shimak_n.htm Shimakaze Class Notes by Allyn Nevitt]

{{WWII Japanese ships}}
{{November 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shimakaze (1942)}}
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Japan]]
[[Category:Destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built by Maizuru Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:Experimental ships]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Japan]]
[[Category:Destroyers sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Philippine Sea]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in November 1944]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by US aircraft]]
[[Category:Shipwreck discoveries by Paul Allen]]
[[Category:2017 archaeological discoveries]]
[[Category:Naval magazine explosions]]