Shiratsuyu (白露, ”White Dew”) [1] was the lead ship of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, and first of six to be built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the Circle One Program (Maru Ichi Keikaku).

In April, the destroyer escorted the aircraft carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku from Mako to Truk, from which it joined Admiral Takeo Takagi’s Strike Force at the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7–8 May.

At the end of May, the ship escorted the cruisers Myōkō and Haguro back to Kure, from which it was assigned to Admiral Shirō Takasu’s, Aleutians Guard Force during the Battle of Midway on 4–6 June.

She returned to active duty on 20 July 1943 with the IJN 2nd Fleet, escorting the aircraft carrier Unyō from Yokosuka to Truk and back in late August.

On the night of 14 June, she collided with the Japanese tanker Seiyo Maru 90 nautical miles (170 km) southeast of Surigao Strait (09°09′N 126°51′E / 9.150°N 126.850°E / 9.150; 126.850), after which her depth charges exploded among survivors.