Samidare (Japanese: Early Summer Rain) was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1934, launched in July 1935, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in January 1937. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 107.5 m, width 9.9 m, and the actual full displacement - 1,700 tons. Destroyer Samidare had a maximum speed of 34 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 5 127 mm guns in two twin and one single turret, and the secondary armament was two 13 mm machine guns, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes. with eight spare torpedoes.
Samidare was the fifth Shiratsuyu-class destroyer. Units of this type were created respecting the displacement limits imposed on the government in Tokyo by international disarmament treaties, especially the London Treaty of 1930. This type of ships was in fact a modification of the Hatsuharu-class ships - at the same time, it meant the temporary withdrawal of the Japanese fleet from building large destroyers like the Fubuki class. Compared to the Hatsuharu type, the Shiratsuyu type units differed in significantly improved stability, narrower hull and lower displacement. The same artillery armament was retained, but the torpedo armament was reinforced. The Achilles' heel turned out to be very weak anti-aircraft weapons, which were constantly modernized and strengthened during the war in the Pacific. Destroyer Samidare began its combat route during World War II by taking part in "Operation M" - that is, Japanese landings in the Philippines in December 1941. In February 1942 he took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, contributing significantly to Japanese victory there. In June of the same year, he was in the cover service of aircraft carriers fighting at Midway. Then, in the period from August 1942 to February 1943, he took part in the fighting in the Guadalcanal area, being part of the so-called Tokyo Express. Later in 1943 he fought in the battles at Vella Lavella and in the Gulf of Empress Augusta. In June 1944, it was part of the protection of an aircraft carrier team during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. The destroyer Samidare was sunk on August 25, 1944 by the American submarine USS Batfish.
The Shigure was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in December 1933, launched in May 1935, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in September 1936. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 107.5 m, width 9.9 m, and the actual full displacement - 1,690 tons. Destroyer Shigure's top speed was up to 34 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was five 127 mm Type 3 guns in two twin turrets and one single turret, and secondary armament was two 13.2 mm machine guns, depth charge throwers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes. Shigure was the second Shiratsuyu-class destroyer. Units of this type were created respecting the displacement limits imposed on the government in Tokyo by international disarmament treaties, especially the London Treaty of 1930. This type of ships was in fact a modification of the Hatsuharu-class ships - at the same time, it meant the temporary withdrawal of the Japanese fleet from building large destroyers like the Fubuki class. Compared to the Hatsuharu type, the Shiratsuyu type units differed in significantly improved stability, narrower hull and lower displacement. The same artillery armament was retained, but the torpedo armament was reinforced. The Achilles' heel turned out to be very weak anti-aircraft weapons, which were constantly modernized and strengthened during the war in the Pacific. Destroyer Shigure was one of the most meritorious destroyers in the Japanese fleet, and it is no coincidence that it deserves the title of "lucky" or "unsinkable." He started his combat route during World War II in an unimpressive way: in December 1941 he served as a cover for Japanese cable ships in their home waters, but in May and June 1942 he took part in the battles on the Coral Sea and Midway. Then, in the period from the second half of 1942 to the beginning of 1943, he took part in the battles in the Guadalcanal region, taking part in one of the naval battles near this island (12-15 November 1942). In 1944, Shigure took part in the great naval struggle in the Philippine Sea and in the Gulf of Leyte. The destroyer was sunk only on January 24, 1945 as a result of a torpedo attack carried out by the USS Blackfin submarine.