© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Shiranuhi: Tabular Record of Movement


Name Translation: "Phosphorescent Foam"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Akazawa Shizuo [49] (prev. C.O. OBORO). Assigned to Desdiv 18 (SHIRANUHI, KAGERO, KASUMI, ARARE), Desron 2, Second Fleet. Flagship of Comdesdiv 18, Captain Miyasaka Yoshito [47].

18-22 November 1941:
Desdiv 18 steamed with Desron 1 from Saeki to Etorofu (Kuriles).

7 December:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's carrier striking force for the attack on Pearl Harbor; then arrived in Kure 24 December.

8-14 January 1942:

Desdiv 18 escorted carrier force from Japan to Truk.

20 January:

Desdiv 18 escorted carrier force in air strikes on Rabaul.

21 January:

Escorted SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU in air strikes on Lae/Salamua.

23 January:

Escorted SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU covering Rabaul/Kavieng landings, then returned to Truk 29 January.

1-8 February:

Escorted carrier force in pursuit of U.S. carriers, then to Palau.

19 February:

Escorted carrier force in air strikes on Port Darwin, then to Staring Bay (Celebes) on 21 February.

25 February:
Departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in operations south of Java.

1 March:

Assisted KASUMI in sinking unidentified merchant ship.

5 March:

Air strikes on Tjilatjap; then returned to Staring Bay on 11 March.


27 March:

Desdiv 18 departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in Indian Ocean raids.

5 April:

Air strikes on Colombo.

9 April:

Air strikes on Trincomalee.

23 April:
Arrived in Kure from Southern operations, then docked for repairs.

21-25 May:

Desdiv 18 steamed with Desron 2 from Kure to Saipan.

3-6 June: Battle of Midway

Desron 2 escorted Midway troop convoy.

17-23 June:

Desdiv 18 escorted KUMANO, SUZUYA and NICHIEI MARU from Truk to Kure.

28 June-4 July:

With KASUMI and ARARE, escorted CHIYODA on a transport mission from Yokosuka to Kiska.

5 July:
Heavily damaged:
by USS GROWLER (SS-215); torpedoed outside Kiska Harbor; hull severed abaft the forward funnel; three dead.

15 August-3 September:

After having hull braced, was towed from Kiska (initially by INAZUMA) via Shimushu to Maizuru, then docked for repairs.

31 August 1942-15 November 1943:

Designated "Special Reserve" while under repair in Japan. (“X” turret removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this period.)

“Command then rotated among various officers while under repair.”

10 September 1942:
Commander Akazawa (to C.O. SUZUTSUKI) relieved by Commander Sugioka Koshichi [49] (C.O. OSHIO, with additional duty as C.O. SHIRANUHI and other DDs under repair).

15 November:
Commander Sugioka (to C.O. ARASHI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Yamana Hiroo [55] (C.O. HATSUHARU, with additional duty as C.O. SHIRANUHI).

20 May-10 September 1943:
Commander Hitomi Toyoji [50] (C.O. MAKINAMI) assigned additional duty as C.O. HATSUHARU and SHIRANUHI (all under repair).

15 September:
Commander Hitomi relieved by Commander Tomoshige Hinoe [47] (X.O. Maizuru Guard District).

5 October:
Commander Tomoshige relieved by Commander Yasumane Masatoshi [50] (X.O. Maizuru Guard District).

1 November:
Commander Yasumane relieved by Lieutenant Commander Ara Teisaburo [56] (prewar C.O. TOMOZURU, staff positions since).

15 November:

Repairs completed; assigned same date to Ninth Fleet.

7-16 January 1944:

Escorted convoy from Saeki to Palau.

23 January-3 February:

Escorting convoys between Palau, Wewak and Hollandia.

21 February-1 March:

Escorting convoys between Palau, Wewak and Hollandia.

1 March:

Assigned to Desdiv 9 (KASUMI, SHIRAKUMO, USUGUMO), Desron 1, Fifth Fleet.

6-22 March:

Escorted convoys from Palau via Formosa to Kure.

31 March:

Desdiv 9 redesignated Desdiv 18.

2 April:

Departed Kure for Ominato, then Northern Area patrol/escort duties. Became flagship of Comdesdiv 18, Captain Inoue Yoshio [48].

19-21 June:

Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Ominato to Kure.

28 June-1 July:

Escorted convoy from Yokosuka to Ominato.

31 July-2 August:

Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Ominato to Kure.

11-14 August:

Escorted KISO and TAMA on transport run between Yokosuka and Chichi-jima.

14-23 October:

Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Kure via Amami-O-Shima and Mako to Coron.

24-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf

Escorted Admiral Shima's 2nd Diversion Attack Force in Battle of Surigao Strait.

26-27 October:

Departed Coron to search for missing KINU and URANAMI, then diverted to assist HAYASHIMO. Sunk: on 27 October by aircraft of TF 77, 80 miles north of Iloilo, Panay (12 N, 122-30 E). Lost with all hands, including Comdesdiv 18 (Captain Inoue).

10 December 1944:

Removed from Navy List.


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