The Murakumo-class destroyers was class of 15 destroyers, these destroyers were the first large destroyers designed for open ocean service to be built in kantai islands.The Murakumo-class destroyers were designed after the Russo-Japanese War, as the kantai Navy realized that the vessels in its current fleet of destroyers were too small and poorly designed for extended “blue water” operation.
Ordered: 12 January 1908
Laid down: 14 May 1909
Launched: 7 June l 1911
Commissioned: 7 September 1912
Decommissioned: 25 February 1932
Struck: 30 February 1932
Fate: Sold 19 July 1933
Status: Broken up for scrap
General characteristics
Displacement: 1,100 long tons (1,100 t) standard 1,320 long tons (1,340 t) full load
Length: 98 m (321 ft 6 in)
Beam: 8.6 m (28 ft)
Draft: 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Installed power: 3-shaft Parsons steam turbine, 8 boilers, 20,500 ihp (15,300 kW)
Armament:
3 × single TYPE 10 12cm
3 × twin TYPE 6 53cm ( 533mm) torpedo tubes
1 x single TYPE 8 7cm
Armour:
Deck: .(13–25 mm)
Conning Tower: (50 mm)
Usugumo and Murakumo as part of the kantai islands detachment in the Battle of Tsingtao, and in the operation to seize German colonial possessions in the South Pacific.
Yūgiri as she appeared Throughout 1915–1916, on escort duty in the West Pacific and Indian Oceans.
in 1915 all Murakumo class destroyers were modify the bridge area was enclosed, redesign improve the bridge crew endurance in bad weather.
In February 1919, all Murakumo class destroyers sent to Kousaten Arsenal for modernization, The aft torpedo tube was replaced by one additional 120mm gun and two additional 76mm guns.
in 1923 two Murakumo class destroyers were Converted in to Auxiliary Minesweeper, all torpedo tubes were remove and minesweeping gears was added and they were the only auxiliary minelayers to be fitted with two depth charge racks- one on each side amidship,
the ships were Renamed to Sokaitokumutei 5 and 6.
the decommissioning of the Murakumo class destroyers begun in 1932.
in 1934 the japanese army and navy launched a invasion of the kantai islands, the invasion was surprise attack, the navy army and air force of the came under control of the japanese armed forces, strengthening the japanese military in the pacific.
Ships in class: (laid down-launched-commissioned - fate)
Murakumo 1909-1911-1912 - Decommissioned 1932
Shinonome 1909-1911-1912 - Decommissioned 1932
Yūgiri 1909-1911-1912 - Decommissioned 1932
Shiranui 1909-1911-1912 - Decommissioned 1932
Kagerō 1909-1911-1912 - Decommissioned 1932
Usugumo 1910-1912-1913 - Decommissioned 1932
Shirakumo 1910-1912-1913 - Decommissioned 1932
Asashio 1910-1912-1913 - Decommissioned 1932
Akatsuki 1910-1912-1913 - Sunk 1916
Kasumi 1911-1913-1914 - Sunk 1916
Fubuki 1911-1913-1914 - Decommissioned 1934
Harusame 1911-1913-1914 - Converted 1923
Niji 1911-1913-1914 - Converted 1923
Akebono 1912-1914-1915 - Decommissioned 1935
Oboro 1912-1914-1915 - Decommissioned 1935