Shigure of SaseboWhat is Shigure, second ship of Shiratsuyu-class destroyerCommander Hara said Yukikaze is sukebe and Shigure is nonbeLaid down in Uraga Dock Company on December 9th 1933 (Showa 8) and commisioned on September 7th 1936 (Showa 11). Shigure is the second ship of Shiratsuyu class.
Originally, the Shiratsuyu class are designed as Hatsuharu class. But due to the Tomozuru Incident where the third ship of Chidori-class torpedo boat "Tomozuru" capsized, every parts except the engine are redesigned.
Next year, the Fourth Fleet Incident happened. The incident is found to be caused by weakness in the welding, so this part is also improved.
Ignoring speed and cruising capacity, Shiratsuyu class are extraordinarily excellent destroyers. They preceeded the Asashio, Kagerou and Yuugiri class which are all top class destroyers in world standard.The memories Shigure left behindShigure, the sole survivor in Battle of Surigao StraitWell equipped with AA weaponries and could also fight with torpedoes, but...In the end, even a lucky ship like Shigure finally succumbed to the torpedoes from submarine USS Blackfin in Gulf of Siam of Malaysia Peninsula on January 24th Showa 20. Regretably, unlike Yukikaze, Shigure never survived to see the end of the war...From the memoirs of the commander of the 27th Destroyer Division assigned on Shigure from March 3rd to December 5th 1943With her solid anti aircraft weaponries, she shot down many enemy planes. Even with reduced quantity, her torpedoes still managed to sink enemy ships and submarines. Shigure is really an excellent ship. But for that, she broke the rule of London Naval Treaty. This fact is kept hidden from foreign nations.Being a ship lucky enough to survive so many battles also mean she beared the fate of watching the end of many ships. There's also case where she's the only survivor, but in my opinion the worst is when she's assigned to Nishimura Fleet who are engaging in the night battle of Surigao Strait. Every other ships but her are destroyed. Shigure witnessed Fusou, Yamashiro, Mogami, Michishio, Yamagumo and Asagumo in that heroic night battle.
If there's melancholic of ennui lines from her dialogues in Kantai Collection, I think it must be originating from memory of her history.Shigure is a ship with great deed and there’s a saying: “Yukikaze of Kure and Shigure of Sasebo”. Even though only for limited time of his assignment, Hara Tameichi in his book Japanese Destroyer Captain summarized Shigure in easily understandable words in page 78 to 150.
Focusing on the Tokyo Express strategy where destroyers have to carry immense amount of cargo to maintain supply line to the overly expanded battle front, we can see just how lucky Shigure is.
In this book, we can also catch a glimpse about the destroyer crew of the time.
It’s also written here that the saying “Yukikaze of Kure and Shigure of Sasebo” became popular in Rabaul.
Her achievements through Battle of Vella Gulf, Battle off Horaniu and Naval Battle of Vella Lavella became known to the Emperor.
We can also read about talk among the crew when they’re having drink before and after those wars, starting from Colonel Hara Tameichi, commanding officer of the 27th Destroyer Division, and Shigure’s captain Lt.Com. Yamagami Kamesaburou that “Yukikaze is sukebei and Shigure is nonbei”.
Those who are interested in the story can pick up the book.
* Later, Hara got assigned as captain of Yahagi in the 2nd Torpedo Squad.
- Hara Tameichi is a Japanese captain who survived the war. His memoir “Teikoku Kaigun no Saigo” (End of the Imperial Japanese Navy) is translated to English as “Japanese Destroyer Captain” became a reference material for western historian on the Pacific War from Japanese perspective. His last mission in Yahagi is accompanying in Yamato’s last stand in Iwojima, which he also survived.
- Japan expanded the battle front to the south further than they can maintain supply line. Because slow cargo ships are vulnerable to attack, the navy allowed faster destroyer ships to be used to carry supplies to the battle fronts overnight when it's safer from air raid. Shigure participated in 8 runs and her team also destroyed US torpedo boat during an engagement.
- Sukebee means pervert after the Meiji era, but originally it means someone with great liking on something. Nonbee similarly means a heavy drinker.
