Her profile was made up of a typical configuration which saw the elevated bridge superstructure fitted well ahead of midships. Smoke funnels were featured at midships. The primary gun turrets were set about the design to offer the best advantage in a full broadside attack but also set to maintain some value in attacking targets head on or from another direction relative to the warship's position. The ability to deliver a considerable torpedo spread was important in that an enemy vessel would be given little time to react to a wave of torpedoes headed to it. Her finalized dimensions included a running length of 424.9 feet, a beam of 36.8 feet and a draught of 13.6 feet. The crew numbered 267 personnel.
IJN Shimakaze was given ship number 125 while the rest in her proposed class were to span 733 to 748. The Navy's intent was to eventually field as many as thirty-two such warships across four destroyer squadrons. Shimakaze was first placed into action during June of 1943 where she participated in the evacuation of Japanese troops from Kiska Island (as part of the Aleutian Islands campaign - Alaska). In early 1944 she was given a refit which saw her main battery reduced to 4 x 5" guns.16 x 25mm AA guns now made up her local air defense prowess and her depth charge inventory numbered 36.
From there she formed part of the Japanese fleet in Philippine waters during the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 1944). The battle proved a decisive American victory which sent the Japanese reeling once more (three fleet carriers were lost and over 600 aircraft destroyed). During the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 1944) - another decisive victory for the Allies - Shimakaze did not use her guns in anger but was instead pressed into service as rescue ship for survivors of the IJN Musashi (the second of two Yamato battleships completed).
By November 1944 Shimakaze was serving as flagship of Destroyer Squadron 2 and kept the role until attacked and sunk by American warplanes on November 11th as part of the Battle of Ormoc Bay (the Philippines Campaign). The battle ranged from November 11th until December 21st, 1944 and ended as another American naval victory of the war.
With that, the tenure of Shimakaze's reign of the high seas had come to an end and her class was never grown beyond the lead ship. The design proved simply too complex and expensive to be had in the numbers required - especially as Japanese infrastructure was pressed beyond its limits during the Grand War.
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