Japanese destroyer Shinonome (1898)

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Shinonome.
History
Empire of Japan
NameShinonome
Namesake東雲 ("Dawn Cloud")
BuilderJohn I. Thornycroft & Company, Chiswick, England
Yard numberTorpedo Boat Destroyer No. 3
Laid down1 October 1897
Launched14 December 1898
Completed1 February 1899
Commissioned1 February 1899
Reclassified
Identification
Fate
  • Wrecked 20 July 1913
  • Sank 23 July 1913
Stricken6 August 1913
NotesWreck sold 29 November 1913
General characteristics
TypeMurakumo-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 275 long tons (279 t) normal
  • 360.5 long tons (366.3 t) full load
Length
  • 208 ft (63 m) waterline,
  • 210 ft (64 m) overall[2]
Beam19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Draught6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Depth13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
PropulsionReciprocating engine, 3 boilers, 5,800 ihp (4,300 kW), 2 shafts
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement50
Armament
Service record
Operations:

Shinonome (東雲, "Dawn Cloud") was one of six Murakumo-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. Shinonome took part in several major engagements during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) and was wrecked in 1913.

Some sources regard Shinonome as the lead ship of her class and refer to the Murakumo class as the Shinonome class.[3]

Construction and commissioning

Authorized under the 1896 naval program,[4] Shinonome was laid down on 1 October 1897 by John I. Thornycroft & Company at Chiswick, England, as Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 3.[4][5] On 16 March 1898, she was named Shinonome.[6] When the Imperial Japanese Navy established its Naval Warship and Torpedo Boat Classification Standards on 21 March 1898,[7] she was classified as a torpedo boat destroyer.[8] Launched on 14 December 1898,[4] she was completed on 1 February 1899[4] and commissioned the same day.[4]

Service history

Shinonome completed her delivery voyage from England to Japan on 15 April 1899 with her arrival at Yokosuka.[4][9] On 22 June 1900, the Imperial Japanese Navy established its Naval Vessel Classification Standard, abolishing the classification of "torpedo boat destroyer" and establishing the classification of "destroyer" as a type of warship,[10] and under the new classification scheme Shinonome was classified as a destroyer.[11] Also as of 22 June 1900, she was assigned to the Sasebo Naval District[12] and incorporated into the Standing Fleet.[13]

While cruising in the waters of the Miyako Islands in Okinawa Prefecture on 7 June 1902, Shinonome ran aground in Yabiji, a coral reef group north of Ikema Island. The protected cruisers Akashi and Saien and the destroyer Usugumo came to her assistance. Eventually refloated, she returned to Sasebo on 5 August 1902.

When the Russo-Japanese War broke out in February 1904, Shinonome was part of the 3rd Destroyer Division of the 1st Fleet.[14] During the Battle of Port Arthur on 8 February 1904, she hit the Imperial Russian Navy protected cruiser Pallada with a torpedo.[4][14]

During the predawn hours of 10 March 1904, a force consisting of Shinonome, Usugumo, the protected cruiser Chitose, and the destroyers Akebono and Sazanami intercepted the Russian destroyers Reshitel‘nyi and Steregushchiy as they approached Port Arthur from the south-southeast during their return from a reconnaissance mission.[15] As the Japanese moved to cut them off from Port Arthur, Reshitel‘nyi and Steregushchiy turned to starboard and made for the shelter of Russian minefields off Dalniy.[16] With superior speed, the Japanese destroyers closed to a range of 300 metres (330 yd), and the two sides opened gunfire on one another.[16] The Russians scored a number of hits on the Japanese ships, but at 06:40 a Japanese shell detonated in one of Steregushchiy′s coal bunkers, damaging two of her boilers and causing her speed to drop off quickly.[16] Reshitel‘nyi′s commanding officer was wounded, forcing her engineering officer to take command, and she also suffered a shell hit which knocked out one of her boilers, but she managed to keep her speed up and reach waters within range of Russian coastal artillery at daybreak.[16] As Reshitel‘nyi again altered course toward Port Arthur, where she arrived safely, the coastal artillery opened fire on the Japanese and discouraged them from continuing the chase.[16]

Giving up their pursuit of Reshitel‘nyi, the Japanese closed with the limping Steregushchiy. The Japanese destroyers were larger and more heavily armed than Steregushchiy, and they opened an overwhelming fire on her in broad daylight.[16] Chitose and the Japanese armored cruiser Tokiwa also joined the action. Aboard Steregushchiy, a Japanese shell exploded in the No. 2 boiler room, opening a hole in the hull through which water entered the compartment, flooded the fireboxes, and forced Steregushchiy′s crew to abandon the room. As the unequal fight continued, Japanese shell hits brought down all of Steregushchiy′s funnels and masts. Her commanding officer and gunnery officer died at their posts, her executive officer was killed while trying to launch her whaleboat, and her engineering officer was blown overboard by the explosion of a Japanese shell. One by one, Steregushchiy′s guns fell silent, and by 07:10 she was a motionless wreck with her hull mangled and almost her entire crew dead or dying.[17] She struck her colors to surrender.[16]

The Japanese ships ceased fire and gathered around the destroyers′ flagship Usugumo, finding that Usugumo and Shinonome had sustained only minor damage, Sazanami had suffered eight shell hits, and Akebono had taken about 30 hits. The Japanese destroyers had suffered a number of killed and wounded. The Japanese attempted to take possession of the Russian destroyer, but Steregushchiy′s crew had opened her Kingston valves to scuttle her, and two members of her crew locked themselves in her engine room to prevent the Japanese from closing the valves, sacrificing their lives to ensure that she sank.[17] At 08:10, a Japanese tug arrived, and Sazanami began an attempt to tow Steregushchiy to port. At around the same time, however, the Russian armored cruiser Bayan and protected cruiser Novik approached under the personal command of the commander of the Russian First Pacific Squadron, Vice Admiral Stepan Osipovich Makarov, and the Japanese abandoned their towing attempt, rescued Steregushchiy′s four surviving crew members, and withdrew to avoid combat. At 09:07, Steregushchiy sank 7 nautical miles (13 km; 8.1 mi) southeast of Mount Laoteshan and 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) from the Lushun Lighthouse with the loss of 49 members of her crew.[17][18]

Shinonome later participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea in August 1904 and the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905, among other actions.[4][14] During the Battle of Tsushima, she served as flagship of the 3rd Destroyer Division.[19] After the war ended in early September 1905, she participated in a triumphant naval review held off Yokohama, Japan, on 23 October 1905 and was placed in the fourth row.[20]

On 28 August 1912, the Imperial Japanese Navy revised its ship classification standards. It established three categories of destroyers, with those of 1,000 displacement tons or more defined as first-class destroyers, those of 600 to 999 displacement tons as second-class destroyers, and those of 599 or fewer displacement tons as third-class destroyers.[21] Under this classification scheme, Shinonome became a third-class destroyer.[22]

During a voyage from Tamsui, Formosa, to Makeng in the Pescadores Islands, Shinonome encountered high winds and was wrecked on 20 July 1913 off the coast of Formosa northwest of Anping.[4][23] Her hull broke up and she sank on 23 July 1913. She was stricken from the naval register on 6 August 1913,[24] and her wreck was sold for scrap on 29 November 1913.[4]

Commanding officers

SOURCE:[25]

  • Lieutenant Commander Ken Isobe 22 June 1900 – 4 September 1902
  • Lieutenant Mencius Yoshida 11 December 1903 – 14 June 1905
  • Lieutenant Yoshihiro Morimoto 14 June 1905 – 12 December 1905
  • Lieutenant Commander Yoshihiro Morimoto, 12 December 1905 – 25 January 1906
  • Lieutenant Commander Shunzo Mori 25 January 1906 – 1 April 1906
  • Lieutenant Gokichi Shibauchi 1 April 1906 – 28 September 1907
  • Lieutenant Kaori Samejima 28 September 1907 – 1 February 1908
  • Lieutenant Shinzaburo Ito 1 February 1908 – 16 May 1908
  • Lieutenant Tameyoshi Noda 16 May 1908 – 23 December 1908
  • Lieutenant Shigenosuke Sakai 23 December 1908 – 1 February 1909
  • Lieutenant Masajiro Okada 1 February 1909 – 1 December 1909
  • Lieutenant Kumazo Nakamura 1 December 1909 – 1 April 1911
  • Lieutenant Captain Matsudaira 1 April 1911 – 17 April 1911
  • Lieutenant Torao Yamada 17 April 1911 – 13 July 1912
  • Lieutenant Yoichi Nomura 13 July 1912 – 8 January 1913
  • Lieutenant Yutaka Shiraki 8 January 1913 – unknown

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ 明治31年4月15日『官報』第4434号。国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ1 『｜信號符字|艦艇名|GQJW|東雲 Shinonome｜』 ("April 15, Meiji 31 'Kanpo' No. 4434. National Diet Library Digital Collection Panel 1『｜Shingofuji｜Ship Name｜GQJW｜Shinonome Shinonome") (in Japanese)
  2. ^ Lyon, The Thornycroft List
  3. ^ Jentsura, Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 日本海軍史』第7巻 ("History of the Japanese Navy, Vol. 7") (in Japanese), p. 285.
  5. ^ 幕末以降帝国軍艦写真と史実』 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ74 ("Imperial warship photos and historical facts after the end of the Edo period, Frame 74") (in Japanese), National Diet Library Digital Collection
  6. ^ 明治31年 達 完：3月(1)」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070040500 画像6「達第二十七號　英國ニ於テ製造中ノ水雷艇驅逐艇左ノ通命名ス　明治三十一年三月十六日 ("1898: March (1) "Center for Asian Historical Records Ref.C12070040500 Image 6 "Tatsu 27 Torpedo Boat Destroyer Under Production in England, Named 1898 March 16, 11 Minister of the Navy Marquis Saigō") (in Japanese)
  7. ^ 達明治31年3月(1) 画像14「達第三十四號　海軍大臣ニ於テ別表ノ標準ニ據リ軍艦及水雷艇ノ類別等級ヲ定メ若ハ其ノ變更ヲ行フコトヲ得セシメラル　明治三十一年三月二十一日　海軍大臣 侯爵西鄕從道 ("1898 March 31 (1) Image 14 "Minister of the Navy has determined the classification grades of warships and torpedo boats according to the standards in the attached table, subject to change. March 21, 1898, Minister of the Navy, Marquis Saigō Jūdō") (in Japanese)
  8. ^ 達明治31年3月(1) 画像16・17「達第三十五號　軍艦及水雷艇類別等級別紙ノ通定ム　明治三十一年三月二十一日　海軍大臣 侯爵西鄕從道　｜水雷艇|驅逐艇|東雲 叢雲 夕霧 不知火 雷 電 曙 漣｜ ("1898 March 31 (1) Image 16/17 "Tatsu 35 Warships and Torpedo Boats Classified Classifications Attached Sheet No. Mitsurumu March 21, 1898 Minister of Navy Marquis Saigō Jūdō: Torpedo boat destroyer Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui") (in Japanese)
  9. ^ 明治32年4月17日『官報』第4734号。国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ4 『○軍艦發著 ...同吉野ハ同日品海拔錨橫須賀ヘ投錨一昨十五日神戸ニ向ヒ同港拔錨、水雷艇驅逐艇東雲ハ同日橫須賀ヘ投錨セリ(海軍省)』 ("April 17, Meiji 32 'Kanpo' No. 4734. National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 4 'Warship Ship anchor on the same day as Yoshino, anchored at Yokosuka on the same day. Yesterday, the 15th, the same day, the torpedo boat and destroyer Shinonome anchored at Yokosuka on the same day. Ministry.")』(in Japanese)
  10. ^ 「明治33年 達 完：6月」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070044300 画像47「達第百二十一號　海軍大臣ニ於テ軍艦及水雷艇ノ類別等級ヲ定メ若ハ其ノ變更ヲ行フコトヲ得セシメラルヽ件ヲ廢セラン更ニ艦艇類別標準別表ノ通定メラル　明治三十三年六月二十二日 海軍大臣 山本權兵衞」 ("1900: June Asia Historical Records Center Ref.C12070044300 Image 47 'Date No. 121 The Minister of the Navy has decided on the classification of warships and torpedo boats and will change them. On June 22, 1900, Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Gonnohyōe'") (in Japanese)
  11. ^ 明治33年達完6月 画像48「｜軍艦|驅逐艦|東雲、叢雲、夕霧、不知火、陽炎、薄雲、... ("1900 June Image 48 "Warship: Destroyer: Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui, Kagero, Usugumo, ... ") (in Japanese)
  12. ^ 海軍内令 明治33年：内令第55号 明治33年6月1日～内令第97号 明治33年8月1日 画像19・20『內令第七十二號　驅逐艦 東雲　驅逐艦 叢雲　驅逐艦 夕霧　驅逐艦 不知火　驅逐艦 陽炎　驅逐艦 薄雲　右本籍ヲ佐世保鎭守府所管ト定メラル　...　明治三十三年六月二十二日 海軍大臣 山本權兵衛』 ("Navy Internal Order 1908: Internal Order No. 55 June 1, 1900 - Internal Order No. 97 August 1, 1900 Image 19/20 "Internal Order No. 72 Shinonome Destroyer Murakumo Destroyer Yugiri Destroyer Shiranui Destroyer Kagero Destroyer Usugumo Right registered under the jurisdiction of the Sasebo Defense Office ... June 22, 1900, Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Gonnohyōe") (in Japanese)
  13. ^ 海軍内令 明治33年：内令第55号 明治33年6月1日～内令第97号 明治33年8月1日 画像20「內令第七十三號　佐世保鎭守府　驅逐艦 東雲　驅逐艦 叢雲　驅逐艦 夕霧　驅逐艦 陽炎　驅逐艦 薄雲　右常備艦隊ニ編入セラル　佐世保鎭守府　驅逐艦 不知火　右豫備艦ト定メラル　明治三十三年六月二十二日 海軍大臣 山本權兵衞」 ("Navy Internal Order 1908: Internal Order No. 55 June 1, 1900 - Internal Order No. 97 August 1, 1900 Image 20 'Internal Order No. 73 Sasebo Shogunate Destroyer Shinonome Destroyer Murakumo Destroyer Yugiri Destroyer Kagero Destroyer Usugumo, Right, Standing Fleet Second Transfer Seral Sasebo Shogunate Destroyer Shiranui, Right, Armored Cruiser Asama June 22, 1900 Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Gonnohyōe'"
  14. ^ a b c 聯合艦隊軍艦銘銘伝』普及版、263頁 ("United Fleet Gunkan Meiden popular version page 263") (in Japanese).
  15. ^ Corbett, Vol. I, pp. 148–149.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g Corbett, Vol. I, p. 149.
  17. ^ a b c Corbett, Vol. I, p. 150.
  18. ^ "Description of the military operations of the Japanese fleet at sea in 1904–1905," compiled by the Naval General Staff in Tokyo.
  19. ^ Corbett, Vol. II, p. 218.
  20. ^ 明治三十七・八年海戦史. 下巻 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ370 ("History of naval battles in 1904 and 1905. Volume 2 National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 370") (in Japanese)
  21. ^ 「大正1年 達 完：8月」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070064400 画像33『達第十一號　艦艇類別等級別表ノ通改正セラル　大正元年八月二十八日 海軍大臣 男爵斎藤實　（別表）｜驅逐艦|一等|千暾以上|二等|千暾未満六百暾以上|三等|六百暾未満｜』 ("1912: August Asia Historical Records Center Ref.C12070064400 Image 33 ′Tatsu No. 11 Ship Classification Classification Table Revised Serral August 28, 1912 Minister of Navy Baron Minoru Saito (Appendix ): Destroyer, First class, 1,000 tons or more; Second class; Less than 1,000 tons, 600 tons or more; Third class′") (in Japanese)
  22. ^ ("1912 August Image 34 ′Tatsu 12th Revision of Ship Classification Classification Table No. August 28, 1912, Minister of Navy Baron Minoru Saito (separate table): Destroyer, Third class: Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui, Kagero, Usugumo, ...′") (in Japanese)
  23. ^ 「大正2年 公文備考 巻25 艦船6 遭難災害2：東雲遭難一件(3)」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C08020265700 ("1913 Kumon Remarks Volume 25 Ship 6 Distress Disaster 2: Shinonome Distress (3) Asian Historical Records Center Ref.C08020265700")(in Japanese)
  24. ^ 「大正2年 達 完：8月」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070066400 画像2『達第百七號　佐世保鎭守府在籍　驅逐艦 東雲　右帝國軍艦籍ヨリ除カル　大正二年八月六日　海軍大臣 男爵斎藤實』『達第百八號　艦艇類別等級別表中「東雲」ヲ削ル　大正二年八月六日　海軍大臣 男爵斎藤實』("1913: August " Asia Historical Records Center Ref.C12070066400 Image 2 "Tatsu 107 Sasebo Shogunate Registered Destroyer Shinonome Right Empire Warship Registration Yori Excluded Cal August 6, 2nd Year of the Taisho Navy Minister Baron Saito Minoru” “No. 108, Deletion of Shinonome in the Table of Classification of Ships, August 6, 1913, Minister of the Navy Baron Minoru Saito" (in Japanese)
  25. ^ 日本海軍史』第9巻・第10巻の「将官履歴」及び『官報』に基づく ("Based on History of General Officers and Official Gazette in Volumes 9 and 10 of History of the Japanese Navy) (in Japanese)

Bibliography

  • Cocker, Maurice (1983). Destroyers of the Royal Navy, 1893-1981. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1075-7.
  • Corbett, Julian S. (1994). Maritime Operations in the Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905, Volume I. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-129-7.
  • Corbett, Julian S. (1994). Maritime Operations in the Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905, Volume II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-129-7.
  • 片桐大自『聯合艦隊軍艦銘銘伝』普及版、光人社、2003年。("Daiji Katagiri 'Rengo Kantai Gunkan Meiden' popular version, Kojinsha, 2003.") (in Japanese)
  • Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
  • Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
  • Jane, Fred T. (1904). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Thacker, Spink & Co. ASIN: B00085LCZ4.
  • Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
  • Lyon, David (1981). The Thornycroft List. Greenwich: National Maritime Museum.
  • Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-0408-7.
  • Stille, Mark (2016). The Imperial Japanese Navy of the Russo-Japanese War. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1119-6.
  • 福井靜夫『写真日本海軍全艦艇史 Fukui Shizuo Collection』資料編、KKベストセラーズ、1994年。("Shizuo Fukui, "Photographic History of All Ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy Fukui Shizuo Collection" Data Edition, KK Bestsellers, 1994.") (in Japanese)
  • Watts, Anthony John (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-356-03045-8.