The Shiratsuyu-class destroyers that were to be designated as the subclass of the Hatsuharu-class destroyers, the original plan was to construct six vessels under the Circle-One Program of the Imperial Japanese Navy. But these ships have extensive modification of their designs compare to Hatsuharu-class thus making them a separate class. Additional four vessels of the new class destroyers were ordered under the Circle-Two Program. The initial construction for the Shiratsuyu-class destroyers began on November 14, 1933 at Sasebo Naval Arsenal. Shiratsuyu's construction took 507 days until she was launched on April 5, 1935, and another 503 days of trial until she was commissioned on Aug 20, 1936. Ten destroyers were completed afterwards, the last destroyer to be laid down, launched and completed was Suzukaze, she was laid down on July 4, 1935 at Uraga Dock Company, her construction took 611 days, she was launched on March 11, 1937 with 173 days trial until she was commissioned on August 31, 1937.
Shiratsuyu-class destroyers have a standard displacement of 1,685 tons. They were equipped with two shaft Kampon geared turbines and three boilers capable of producing 42,000 horsepower, their horsepower were lower compare to the Fubuki-class but their machinery were significantly lighter and more powerful basis, their boilers are pretty much lighter compare to the Fubuki-class. They carried 500 tons of fuel. Their speed could range up to 34 knots. Their initial main armaments were two twin 12.7cm (5 inch) 50 Cal. 3rd Year Type 'Type-C' naval guns and one single 12.7 cm (5 inch) 50 Cal. 3rd Year Type 'Type-B' naval gun with two 13mm Type-93 machine guns for secondary armaments. They were the first warships to be armed with quadruple 24 inch torpedo tubes, two were armed, their torpedo launchers were covered with protective shield to be able to operate despite of any weather and prevent splinter damage, they also installed telephone connection to their torpedo station for communication. They initially carried a total of 16 depth charges for antisubmarine warfare. Their hull pretty much attained the original design of the Hatsuharu-class destroyers but with a long forecastle to improve sea-keeping at high-speed and reduce spray of water coming from the deck. The design of their layout resemble of the Ariake-subclass of the Hatsuharu-class destroyer, but with more compact bridge and difference in their shapes and inclination of their funnels. Further modification such additional anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft radars were installed through the duration of the war.
All ten destroyers were lost in the war, 1 as sank from a collision, 1 was sank by an aerial attack, 3 were from surface action, and 5 were sank by a submarine. The first ship of the class to sunk was Yamakaze, she was sank by USN submarine USS Nautilus SS-168 on June 25, 1942, 60 nautical miles southeast of Yokosuka. The first ship to be sank in a surface action was Yuudachi, she was smothered with gunfire by a group of destroyers-cruisers in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of November 13, 1942. Harusame was the only ship of the class to be sank by an air attack, she was attacked by USAAF bombers and sunk afterwards on June 8, 1944, 30 nautical miles northwest of Manokwari. The ship that sank from a collision was Shiratsuyu, she collided with an oil tanker on June 15, 1944, 90 nautical miles southeast of Surigao Srait, the collision detonated her depth charges which killed many, she sunk afterwards. The last ship to be sank was Shigure, she was sank by USN submarine USS Blackfin SS-322 on January 24, 1945, within the Gulf of Siam.
Shiratsuyu-class destroyers were succeeded by Asashio-class destroyers.