- Japanese destroyer Shirayuki
"Shirayuki" was a "Fubuki"-class
destroyer of theImperial Japanese Navy . Her name means "White Snow" and was given in honor ofEmperor Shōwa 's favorite imperial stallion.From
12 November to15 November 1942 , "Hatsuyuki" took part in the Naval Battles for Guadalcanal.Initially she escorted the Support Force commanded by AdmiralKurita Takeo , then joined the Emergency Bombardment Force of AdmiralKondo Nobutake . With "Nagara" in the assault on enemy destroyers, "Hatsuyuki" assisted in sinking USS "Benham" (DD-397), USS "Walke" (DD-416), and USS "Preston" (DD-379) and damaging USS "Gwin" (DD-433). "Hatsuyuki" then sailed toTruk on18 November .On
1 March 1943 , "Shirayuki" led the escort of a troopconvoy fromRabaul towardsLae ,New Guinea , asflagship of Destroyer Squadron 3 (Rear AdmiralKimura Masatomi ). In theBattle of the Bismarck Sea on3 March , she was sunk by Allied air attacks, 55 miles (100 km) southeast ofFinschhafen (coord|07|15|S|148|30|E |region:PG_type:landmark |display=title,inline). Askip-bomb exploded in her after magazine, severing the stern, with 32 dead. The survivors, including Admiral Kimura, ComDesDiv 11 (Captain Sugino Shuichi) and Commander Sugawara, rescued by "Shikinami".On
1 April 1943 , "Shirayuki" was removed from the Navy List.Commanding Officers
Chief Equipping Officer - Cmdr. Tetsuo Sano - 10 August 1928 - 10 December 1928
Cmdr. Tetsuo Sano - 10 December 1928 - 30 November 1929
Cmdr. Kozo Suzukida - 30 November 1929 - 1 December 1930
Cmdr. Tsutomu Shibata - 1 December 1930 - 15 March 1932
Cmdr. Tatsuhei Nakahara - 15 March 1932 - 1 December 1932
Cmdr. Yoshio Kanemasu - 1 December 1932 - 15 November 1934
Cmdr. Michio Sugimoto - 15 November 1934 - 21 October 1935
Lt. Cmdr. / Cmdr. Minegoro Kameyama - 21 October 1935 - 1 July 1936(Promoted to Commander on 15 November 1935.)
Cmdr. Kakuro Mutaguchi - 1 July 1936 - 1 December 1937
Cmdr. Nobuki Ogawa - 1 December 1937 - 5 October 1938
Lt. Cmdr. Tsuneo Orita - 5 October 1938 - 15 October 1939
Lt. Cmdr. Kiyoshi Tomura - 15 October 1939 - 15 November 1940
Lt. Cmdr. / Cmdr. Rokorou Sugawara - 15 November 1940 - 3 March 1943(Promoted to Commander on 1 November 1942.)
See also
*
List of World War II ships External links
* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/fubuki_c.htm CombinedFleet.com: "Fubuki"-class destroyers]
* [http://www.combinedfleet.com/shiray_t.htm CombinedFleet.com: "Shirayuki" history]
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