Japanese destroyer Shiranui (1899) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 Empire of Japan |
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| Name | Shiranui |
| Namesake | 不知火 ("Phosphorescent Foam") |
| Ordered | 1896 |
| Builder | John I. Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick, England |
| Laid down | 1 January 1898 |
| Launched | 15 March 1899 |
| Completed | 13 May 1899 |
| Commissioned | 13 May 1899 |
| Reclassified |
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| Stricken | 1 August 1923 |
| Renamed | No. 2526 1 August 1923 |
| Reclassified | General utility vessel (cargo ship) 1 August 1923 |
| Decommissioned | 25 February 1925 |
| Fate | Hulked 25 February 1925 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Murakumo-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
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| Beam | 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m) |
| Draught | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Depth | 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) |
| Propulsion | Reciprocating engine, 3 boilers, 5,800 ihp (4,300 kW), 2 shafts |
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Complement | 50 |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Operations: |
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The Shiranui (meaning "Phosphorescent Foam" in Japanese) was a type of warship called a destroyer. It was one of six Murakumo-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. This ship played a role in major battles during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) and also served during World War I (1914–1918).
Contents
Building the Shiranui
The Shiranui was ordered as part of a naval plan in 1896. Its construction began on January 1, 1898, at the John I. Thornycroft & Company shipyard in Chiswick, England.
The ship was officially launched into the water on March 15, 1899. It was finished and officially joined the navy on May 13, 1899. At first, it was called a torpedo boat destroyer.
Shiranui at Sea
Early Years (1899–1904)
The Shiranui sailed all the way from England to Japan, arriving in Yokosuka on November 10, 1899. On June 22, 1900, it was reclassified simply as a destroyer.
Battles of the Russo-Japanese War
When the Russo-Japanese War started in February 1904, the Shiranui was part of the 3rd Destroyer Division. It took part in several important naval battles:
- The Battle of Port Arthur in February 1904.
- The Battle of the Yellow Sea in August 1904.
- The Battle of Tsushima in May 1905.
During the Battle of Tsushima, the Shiranui was the lead ship for the 5th Destroyer Division. On the evening of May 27, 1905, it joined a large Japanese torpedo attack against the Russian fleet. During this attack, one of its boilers was damaged.
The next morning, May 28, the Shiranui found the badly damaged Russian armored cruiser Admiral Nakhimov near Tsushima Island. The Russian crew was getting ready to sink their own ship. The Shiranui fired a warning shot, and the Russian sailors in their lifeboats quickly surrendered. The Japanese demanded the Admiral Nakhimov surrender and warned them not to sink it. Another Japanese ship, the Sado Maru, arrived. Japanese sailors went aboard the Admiral Nakhimov but found it too damaged to save, and it sank later.
Soon after, another damaged Russian armored cruiser, the Vladimir Monomakh, appeared. The Shiranui and Sado Maru chased it. After more than an hour, the Vladimir Monomakh stopped, surrendered, and sank itself.
Chasing the Gromkiy
The Shiranui then went after the Russian destroyer Gromkiy. Because of its damaged boiler, Shiranui could only go about 20 knots (about 37 km/h). The Gromkiy was faster, going 24 knots (about 44 km/h), and seemed to be getting away. However, the Shiranui got a lucky hit with its 12-pounder gun from far away. This shot slowed the Gromkiy down to 20 knots too.
The two destroyers exchanged fire as they chased each other. Around 11:30 AM, the Gromkiy saw a Japanese torpedo boat ahead. Thinking it was another destroyer and that its escape was blocked, the Gromkiy turned towards the Shiranui and fired two torpedoes. One torpedo didn't work, and the Shiranui quickly moved to avoid the other. The Shiranui then kept its distance, circling the Gromkiy and firing at it from beyond the range of Gromkiy′s guns. Finally, the Gromkiy capsized and sank at 12:43 PM.
In July 1905, the Shiranui also took part in the Japanese invasion of Sakhalin.
Later Service and Retirement
On August 28, 1912, the Japanese Navy changed how it classified ships. Destroyers were put into three groups based on their size. The Shiranui became a "third-class destroyer" because it was smaller.
When World War I began in August 1914, the Shiranui helped with the Siege of Tsingtao in China. Later that year, it also helped Japan take over German colonial lands in the Pacific, including the Caroline, Mariana, and Marshall Islands.
On April 1, 1922, the Shiranui was reclassified as a "special service vessel" and used as a second-class minesweeper (a ship that clears underwater mines). On June 30, 1923, it was simply called a second-class minesweeper.
Finally, on August 1, 1923, the Shiranui was removed from the navy list. It was reclassified as a "general utility vessel" to be used as a cargo ship and was renamed No. 2526. The ship was officially taken out of service and turned into a hulk (a ship that is no longer used for sailing) on February 25, 1925.
