was the lead ship of six s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s. Murakumo took part in the Japanese response to the Boxer Rebellion (1900), saw action in several major engagements during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), and served during (1914–1918).
Construction and commissioning Authorized under the 1896 naval program,日本海軍史』第7巻 ("History of the Japanese Navy, Vol. 7") (in Japanese), pp. 285–286. Murakumo was laid down on 1 October 1897 by John I. Thornycroft & Company at Chiswick, England, as Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 4.幕末以降帝国軍艦写真と史実』 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ74 ("Imperial warship photos and historical facts after the end of the Edo period, Frame 74") (in Japanese), National Diet Library Digital Collection On 16 March 1898, she was named Murakumo.明治31年 達 完：3月(1)」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070040500 画像6「達第二十七號 英國ニ於テ製造中ノ水雷艇驅逐艇左ノ通命名ス 明治三十一年三月十六日 ("1898: March (1) "Center for Asian Historical Records Ref.C12070040500 Image 6 "Tatsu 27 Torpedo Boat Destroyer Under Production in England, Named 1898 March 16, 11 Minister of the Navy Marquis Saigō") (in Japanese) When the Imperial Japanese Navy established its Naval Warship and Torpedo Boat Classification Standards on 21 March 1898,達明治31年3月(1) 画像14「達第三十四號 海軍大臣ニ於テ別表ノ標準ニ據リ軍艦及水雷艇ノ類別等級ヲ定メ若ハ其ノ變更ヲ行フコトヲ得セシメラル 明治三十一年三月二十一日 海軍大臣 侯爵西鄕從道 ("1898 March 31 (1) Image 14 "Minister of the Navy has determined the classification grades of warships and torpedo boats according to the standards in the attached table, subject to change. March 21, 1898, Minister of the Navy, Marquis Saigō Jūdō") (in Japanese) she was classified as a torpedo boat destroyer.達明治31年3月(1) 画像16・17「達第三十五號 軍艦及水雷艇類別等級別紙ノ通定ム 明治三十一年三月二十一日 海軍大臣 侯爵西鄕從道 ｜水雷艇|驅逐艇|東雲 叢雲 夕霧 不知火 雷 電 曙 漣｜ ("1898 March 31 (1) Image 16/17 "Tatsu 35 Warships and Torpedo Boats Classified Classifications Attached Sheet No. Mitsurumu March 21, 1898 Minister of Navy Marquis Saigō Jūdō: Torpedo boat destroyer Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui") (in Japanese) Launched on 16 November 1898,明治31年11月18日『官報』第4617号。国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ3 「○水雷艇進水 英國ニ於テ製造ノ水雷艇雷ハ本月十五日、同叢雲ハ同十六日孰モ滞ナク進水セリ(海軍省) "November 18, 1898, "Kanpo" No. 4617. National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 3 Torpedo boat launched in England on the 15th of this month, and Murakumo launched on the 16th of this month (Ministry of the Navy)) (in Japanese) she was completed on 29 December 1898 and commissioned the same day.
Service history Murakumo completed her delivery voyage from England to Japan on 23 April 1899 with her arrival at Yokosuka.明治32年4月25日『官報』第4717号。国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ7 「○軍艦發著 …水雷艇驅逐艇雷ハ同日新嘉坡ニ向ヒコロムボ拔錨、同夕霧ハ本月二十二日亞丁ニ向ヒポーㇽト、サイド拔錨、同叢雲ハ一昨二十三日橫須賀ヘ投錨セリ(海軍省) "April 25, 1899, "Kanpo" No. 4717. National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 7 "Warship Destruction ... Torpedo boat and destroyer lightning launched Hikolumbo anchor for New Kapo on the same day. Murakumo dropped anchor at Yokosuka on the 23rd of last year (Ministry of the Navy)" (in Japanese). On 30 April 1900 she participated in a large naval review held off Kobe, Japan, where she was placed in the fourth row. On 22 June 1900, the Imperial Japanese Navy established its Naval Vessel Classification Standard, abolishing the classification of "torpedo boat destroyer" and establishing the classification of "destroyer" as a type of warship,「明治33年 達 完：6月」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070044300 画像47「達第百二十一號 海軍大臣ニ於テ軍艦及水雷艇ノ類別等級ヲ定メ若ハ其ノ變更ヲ行フコトヲ得セシメラルヽ件ヲ廢セラン更ニ艦艇類別標準別表ノ通定メラル 明治三十三年六月二十二日 海軍大臣 山本權兵衞」 ("1900: June Asia Historical Records Center Ref.C12070044300 Image 47 'Date No. 121 The Minister of the Navy has decided on the classification of warships and torpedo boats and will change them. On June 22nd, 1900, Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Gonnohyōe'") (in Japanese) and under the new classification scheme Murakumo was classified as a destroyer.明治33年達完6月 画像48「｜軍艦|驅逐艦|東雲、叢雲、夕霧、不知火、陽炎、薄雲、… ("1900 June Image 48 "Warship: Destroyer: Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui, Kagero, Usugumo, ... ") (in Japanese) Also as of 22 June 1900, she was assigned to the Sasebo Naval District海軍内令 明治33年：内令第55号 明治33年6月1日～内令第97号 明治33年8月1日 画像19・20「內令第七十二號 驅逐艦 東雲 驅逐艦 叢雲 驅逐艦 夕霧 驅逐艦 不知火 驅逐艦 陽炎 驅逐艦 薄雲 右本籍ヲ佐世保鎭守府所管ト定メラル … 明治三十三年六月二十二日 海軍大臣 山本權兵衞」 ("Navy Internal Order 1908: Internal Order No. 55 June 1, 1900 to Internal Order No. 97 August 1, 1900 Image 19/20 "Internal Order No. 72 Shinonome Destroyer Murakumo Destroyer Yugiri, destroyer Shiranui, destroyer Kagero, destroyer Usugumo, right, registered under the jurisdiction of the Sasebo Defense Office...June 22, 1900, Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Gonnohyōe") (in Japanese) and incorporated into the Standing Fleet.海軍内令 明治33年：内令第55号 明治33年6月1日～内令第97号 明治33年8月1日 画像20「內令第七十三號 佐世保鎭守府 驅逐艦 東雲 驅逐艦 叢雲 驅逐艦 夕霧 驅逐艦 陽炎 驅逐艦 薄雲 右常備艦隊ニ編入セラル 佐世保鎭守府 驅逐艦 不知火 右豫備艦ト定メラル 明治三十三年六月二十二日 海軍大臣 山本權兵衞」 ("Navy Internal Order 1908: Internal Order No. 55 June 1, 1900 - Internal Order No. 97 August 1, 1900 Image 20 'Internal Order No. 73 Sasebo Shogunate Destroyer Shinonome Destroyer Murakumo Destroyer Yugiri Destroyer Kagero Destroyer Usugumo, Right, Standing Fleet Second Transfer Seral Sasebo Shogunate Destroyer Shiranui, Right, Armored Cruiser Asama June 22, 1900 Minister of the Navy Yamamoto Gonnohyōe'" During 1900, she took part in the Japanese intervention in the Boxer Rebellion in China. On 10 April 1903, she participated in a large naval review held off Kobe and was placed in the third row.「極秘 明治37.8年海戦史 第11部 戦局日誌 巻1」/第1編 開戦前誌（明治36年4月8日より37年2月5日に至る）」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C05110200200 画像3（p.5）『第三列、高雄、平遠、筑紫、濟遠、電、曙、雷、朧、叢雲、陽炎、不知火、薄雲、曉、霞、白雲、朝潮、漣 "Top Secret History of the 37.8th Naval Battle Part 11 Battle Diary Volume 1" / Part 1 Pre-War Magazine (From to February 5, 1904, to April 8, 1904) Asian Historical Records Center, Ref.C05110200200 Image 3 (p.5) 'Third row, Kaohsiung, Pingyuan, Tsukushi, Zhiyuan, Inazuma, Akebono, Ikazuchi, Oboro, Murakumo, Kagero, Shiranui, Usugumo, Akatsuki, Kasumi, Shirakumo, Asashio, Sazanami′") (in Japanese)
When the Russo-Japanese War broke out in February 1904, Murakumo was part of the 5th Destroyer Division of the 2nd Fleet.聯合艦隊軍艦銘銘伝』普及版、268頁 ("United Fleet Gunkan Meiden popular version page 268") (in Japanese). During the war, she took part in the Battle of Port Arthur in February 1904, the Battle of the Yellow Sea in August 1904, and the Battle of Tsushima in May 1905. During the Battle of Tsushima, Murakumo could not get into position for a torpedo attack against the Russian fleet during the night of 27–28 May 1905, but while steaming to a rendezvous on the morning of 28 May she came across the Japanese protected cruisers and as they pursued the damaged Imperial Russian Navy protected cruiser , which was attempting to escape northward under escort by the destroyer after the fleet action of the previous day.Corbett, Vol. II, pp. 322–323. Keeping ahead of the Japanese cruisers, Murakumo kept Buistri from interfering with them until Svetlana ceased fire and went dead in the water after suffering additional damage.Corbett, Vol. II, p. 323. While Otowa finished off Svetlana,Corbett, Vol. II, pp. 323–324. Buistri fled with Murakumo and Niitaka in hot pursuit. The chase culminated late in the morning in Buistri′s crew running her aground on the coast of the Korean Peninsula, partially blowing her up, and then surrendering to local authorities.Corbett, Vol. II, p. 324. Murakumo also took part in the Japanese invasion of Sakhalin in July 1905. After the war, she participated in a triumphant naval review held off Yokohama, Japan, on 23 October 1905 and was placed in the fourth row.明治三十七・八年海戦史. 下巻 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ370 ("History of naval battles in 1904 and 1905. Volume 2 National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 370") (in Japanese)
On 18 November 1908, Murakumo participated as a ship in the sixth row of a large-scale naval review off Kobe.帝国及列国海軍』国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション コマ253 ("′Imperial and Imperial Navy′ National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 253") (in Japanese) On 28 August 1912, the Imperial Japanese Navy revised its ship classification standards. It established three categories of destroyers, with those of 1,000 displacement tons or more defined as first-class destroyers, those of 600 to 999 displacement tons as second-class destroyers, and those of 599 or fewer displacement tons as third-class destroyers.「大正1年 達 完：8月」 アジア歴史資料センター Ref.C12070064400 画像33『達第十一號 艦艇類別等級別表ノ通改正セラル 大正元年八月二十八日 海軍大臣 男爵斎藤實 （別表）｜驅逐艦|一等|千暾以上|二等|千暾未満六百暾以上|三等|六百暾未満｜』 ("1912: August Asia Historical Records Center Ref.C12070064400 Image 33 ′Tatsu No. 11 Ship Classification Classification Table Revised Serral August 28, 1912 Minister of Navy Baron Minoru Saito (Appendix ): Destroyer, First class, 1,000 tons or more; Second class; Less than 1,000 tons, 600 tons or more; Third class′") (in Japanese) Under this classification scheme, Murakumo became a third-class destroyer.("1912 August Image 34 ′Tatsu 12th Revision of Ship Classification Classification Table No. August 28, 1912, Minister of Navy Baron Minoru Saito (separate table): Destroyer, Third class: Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui, Kagero, Usugumo, …′") (in Japanese)
After Japan entered World War I in August 1914, Murakumo operated off Tsingtao, China, in support of the Siege of Tsingtao.Halpern. Later that year, she took part in the Japanese seizure of the German Empire′s colonial possessions in the Caroline, Mariana, and Marshall Islands.Gilbert, p. 329.