Hasegawa 1/350 IJN Shimakaze Destroyer # Z029

IJN Shimakaze, meaning "Island Wind," was a unique and experimental destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II.

Launched in 1942, she was the only ship of her class and was designed as a testbed for advanced propulsion systems and heavy torpedo armament.

Shimakaze stood out as one of the fastest and most heavily armed destroyers of the war.

General Characteristics:

Displacement:
Standard: ~2,600 tons
Full Load: ~3,000+ tons
Length: 126 meters (413 feet)
Speed: Over 40 knots (74 km/h / 46 mph)
Complement: ~267 officers and crew
Range: Approx. 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots

Armament:

Main Guns:

3 × twin 127 mm (5 in) dual-purpose guns (Type 3)

Torpedoes:

3 × quintuple 610 mm (24 in) torpedo launchers (15 tubes total)
Carried the deadly Type 93 “Long Lance” oxygen-propelled torpedoes

Anti-Aircraft:

Multiple 25 mm AA guns (Type 96), increased as war progressed

Depth Charges:

For anti-submarine warfare

Design and Role:
Shimakaze was intended to be the first of a new class of high-speed, heavily armed destroyers.

Her revolutionary propulsion system included a high-pressure, high-temperature steam turbine plant that enabled her to reach speeds over 40 knots—making her one of the fastest destroyers of the war.

The ship was armed with an unprecedented 15 torpedo tubes, more than any other destroyer in the world at the time.

This made her a formidable threat to enemy surface ships, especially when armed with Japan’s cutting-edge Type 93 torpedoes.

Service History:
Shimakaze served in multiple escort, screening, and fleet actions in the Pacific.

Despite her advanced design, Japan's worsening industrial and resource situation prevented the production of additional ships of her class.

She participated in:

Philippines Campaign (1944)
Leyte Gulf operations, including efforts to reinforce and evacuate Japanese forces

Fate:
On November 11, 1944, during the Battle of Ormoc Bay, Shimakaze was attacked and sunk by U.S. carrier aircraft.

She was hit by bombs and torpedoes and sank with heavy loss of life, marking the end of one of Japan’s most advanced destroyers.