Drawing by Darth Panda for which our thanks
Part of the Shirane-class with just one sister ship namely the Kurama. These two destroyers were a modified Haruna-class destroyer. The Shirane was laid down on 25 February 1977 by Ishikawajima-Harima, Tokyo, Japan, launched on 18 September a year later, commissioned on 17 March 1980 and is expected to be decommissioned in 2014 and replaced by the Izumo-class helicopter destroyers. Her homeport is Yokosuka, Japan. In the large hanger at the stern side with which these destroyers are fitted out can be 3 SH-60j(K) submarine helicopters. With a displacement of 5.283 tons/5.200 long tons (standard)-7.620 tons/7.500 long tons (full load) are the dimensions 522 x 57.5 x 17,5 feet or 159 x 17,5 x 5,3 metres. The Two turbines and 2 IHI boilers supplied 70.000 ship via two shafts allowing a speed of 31 knots. Her crew numbers 350 men. Except for the helicopters consist her armament of 2-5”/12,7cm guns, 2-2cm Phalanx/CIWS guns, 2x3 for Mark 46 torpedo launchers amidships along the outer edge of the ship at each side, a Sea Sparrow SAM launched and an ASROC Mk 112 octuple launcher to be used for anti submarine warfare.
