© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt

IJN Shirakumo: Tabular Record of Movement


Name Translation: "White Clouds"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Hitomi Toyoji [50]. Assigned to Desdiv 12 (SHIRAKUMO, MURAKUMO, SHINONOME), Desron 3, First Fleet. Flagship of Comdesdiv 12, Commander Ogawa Nobuki [46].

20-26 November 1941:

Desdiv 12 steamed with Desron 3 from Kure to Samah (Hainan).

4-11 December:

Desdiv 12 escorted troop convoy out of Samah in Malaya invasion operation; covered landings at Khota Bharu; then to Camranh Bay.

16 December:

Desdiv 12 with British Borneo invasion force.

24 December:

Assisted Minesweeper No. 3 in rescuing survivors of torpedoed SAGIRI.

January-February 1942:

Escorted CHOKAI out of Camranh Bay in support of Malaya, Anambas Islands and Bangka-Palembang invasion forces; on 14 February sank vessel fleeing Singapore identified as British cable-laying ship.

27 February:

With Western Java invasion force.

28 February-1 March: Battle of Sunda Strait

Assisted in sinking of HMAS PERTH and USS HOUSTON (CA-30), then with MURAKUMO drove Dutch destroyer EVERTSEN ashore on Sebuku Besar.

10 March:

Desdiv 12 deactivated; reassigned to Desdiv 20 (joined AMAGIRI, ASAGIRI, and YUGIRI), Desron 3, First Fleet.

12 March:

Escorted Admiral Ozawa's cover force for Northern Sumatra invasions.

23 March:
Desdiv 20 with Andaman Islands invasion force.

6 April: Indian Ocean Raiding Operations

Escorted KUMANO and SUZUYA; assisted in sinking of five merchant ships.

13-22 April:

Desdiv 20 steamed from Singapore via Camranh Bay to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

4-5 June: Battle of Midway

Desdiv 20 escorted Admiral Takasu's Aleutians Guard Force.

30 June:
Commander Hitomi (to C.O. MAKINAMI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Sato Shigekichi [51].

30 June-2 July:

Desdiv 20 escorted troop convoy from Kure to Amami-O-Shima, then antisubmarine patrolling there.

17-31 July:

Desdiv 20 steamed from Amami-O-Shima via Mako, Singapore and Sabang to Mergui (Burma) for Indian Ocean raiding operations, aborted due to Guadalcanal.

8-17 August:

Desdiv 20 steamed from Mergui via Makassar to Davao.

19-23 August:

Desdiv 20 escorted troop convoy from Davao to Truk.

24 August:

Desdiv 20 departed Truk, escorting troop convoy toward Guadalcanal.

26-28 August:

Troop transport run to Guadalcanal (aborted). Transferred troops from transports while at sea (1-5 N, 156-35 E) and steamed ahead towards Guadalcanal. Heavy damage: in attack by U.S. dive bombers: left dead in the water by direct hit aft which flooded an engine room; only two wounded. Towed by AMAGIRI, then TSUGARU, to arrive Shortlands 30 August.

6-9 September:

Towed by tanker TOA MARU from Shortlands to Truk, then repairs.

30 September-8 October:

Steamed from Truk via Saipan to Kure, then docked for repairs.

8 October-31 December 1942:
Docked at Kure while under repair.

1 November:
Lieutenant Commander Sato promoted to Commander.

15 November:
Commander Sato relieved by Lieutenant Commander Hirayama Toshio [55] (prev. C.O. MINAZUKI).

1 January-31 March 1943:
While at Fujinagata Z., Osaka, twin 13mm (later replaced by 25mm) machine guns probably added on bandstand forward of bridge. (Details unknown)

1 April:
Assigned to Desdiv 9 (joined ASAGUMO and USUGUMO), Desron 1, Fifth Fleet.

15-29 April:

Escorted MAYA from Yokosuka via Ominato to Paramushiro, then Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

25-30 May:

Transport run from Shimushu to Kiska, aborted.

6 June:
Medium damage:
in collision with NUMAKAZE during antisubmarine sweep in heavy fog; then to Paramushiro on 7 June for emergency repairs alongside HAGURO.

12-16 June:

Steamed from Paramushiro to Ominato, then docked for repairs.

16 June-19 July:
At Ominato for repairs, then to Hakodate.

19 July-22 September:
While at Hakodate, “X” turret removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts; additional twin and triple mounts also added (details unclear); Type 22 radar installed on foremast; and radar intercept receivers on bridge.

22 September:
Arrived Ominato from Hakodate, then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

16 November-20 December:

At Ominato for maintenance.

28 December 1943-1 January 1944:

Escorted tanker TEIYO MARU from Ominato to Paramushiro.

7-13 January:

Escorted TEIYO MARU from Paramushiro to Yokosuka.

22 January:
Lieutenant Commander Hirayama (to C.O. AKISHIMO) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Hashimoto Masao [56] (prev. C.O. FUYO).

3-5 February:

Out of Yokosuka to help escort damaged UNYO, then to Ominato on 7 February.

25 February-10 March:

Escorted convoys from Ominato to Paramushiro and back.

16 March:

Departed Kushiro, escorting troop convoy to Uruppu Island. Sunk: torpedoed by USS TAUTOG (SS-199) 170 miles east of Muroran, Hokkaido (42-25 N, 144-55 E). Sank instantly; no survivors.

31 March 1944:

Removed from Navy List.


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