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Japanese destroyer Murakumo (1898)

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History
Empire of Japan
NameMurakumo
Namesake叢雲 ("Gathering Clouds")
Ordered1896
BuilderJohn I. Thornycroft & Company, ChiswickEngland
Yard numberTorpedo Boat Destroyer No. 4
Laid down1 October 1897
Launched16 November 1898
Completed29 December 1898
Commissioned29 December 1898
Reclassified
Identification
Stricken1 April 1919
RenamedMurakumo Maru 1 April 1919
ReclassifiedMiscellaneous vessel (submarine tender/minesweeper) 1 April 1919
RenamedMurakumo 1 July 1920
ReclassifiedSpecial-duty vessel (second-class minesweeper) 1 July 1920
ReclassifiedUtility vessel (target ship) 1 April 1922
FateSunk as target 4 June 1925
General characteristics
TypeMurakumo-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 275 long tons (279 t) normal
  • 360.5 long tons (366.3 t) full load
Length
  • 208 ft (63 m) waterline,
  • 210 ft (64 m) overall[2]
Beam19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
Draught6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Depth13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
PropulsionReciprocating engine, 3 boilers, 5,800 ihp (4,300 kW), 2 shafts
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement50
Armament
Service record
Operations:

Murakumo (叢雲, "Gathering Clouds") was the lead ship of six Murakumo-class destroyers, 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 World War I (1914–1918).

Construction and commissioning[edit]

Authorized under the 1896 naval program,[3] Murakumo was laid down on 1 October 1897 by John I. Thornycroft & Company at Chiswick, England, as Torpedo Boat Destroyer No. 4.[3][4] On 16 March 1898, she was named Murakumo.[5] When the Imperial Japanese Navy established its Naval Warship and Torpedo Boat Classification Standards on 21 March 1898,[6] she was classified as a torpedo boat destroyer.[7] Launched on 16 November 1898,[3][8] she was completed on 29 December 1898[3] and commissioned the same day.[3]

Service history[edit]

Murakumo completed her delivery voyage from England to Japan on 23 April 1899 with her arrival at Yokosuka.[3][9] 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,[10] and under the new classification scheme Murakumo was classified as a destroyer.[11] Also as of 22 June 1900, she was assigned to the Sasebo Naval District[12] and incorporated into the Standing Fleet.[13] During 1900, she took part in the Japanese intervention in the Boxer Rebellion in China.[3] On 10 April 1903, she participated in a large naval review held off Kobe and was placed in the third row.[14]

When the Russo-Japanese War broke out in February 1904, Murakumo was part of the 5th Destroyer Division of the 2nd Fleet.[15] 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.[3][15] 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 Niitaka and Otowa as they pursued the damaged Imperial Russian Navy protected cruiser Svetlana, which was attempting to escape northward under escort by the destroyer Buistri after the fleet action of the previous day.[16] 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.[17] While Otowa finished off Svetlana,[18] Buistri fled with Murakumo and Niitaka in hot pursuit.[17] 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.[19] Murakumo also took part in the Japanese invasion of Sakhalin in July 1905.[3][15] 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.[20]

On 18 November 1908, Murakumo participated as a ship in the sixth row of a large-scale naval review off Kobe.[21] 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.[22] Under this classification scheme, Murakumo became a third-class destroyer.[23]

After Japan entered World War I in August 1914, Murakumo operated off Tsingtao, China, in support of the Siege of Tsingtao.[24] Later that year, she took part[citation needed] in the Japanese seizure of the German Empire′s colonial possessions in the Caroline, Mariana, and Marshall Islands.[25]

Murakumo was stricken from the navy list on 1 April 1919,[26] designated as a "miscellaneous vessel" for use as a submarine tender and minesweeper, and renamed Murakumo Maru.[27] On 1 July 1920, she was reclassified as a "special duty vessel" for use as a second-class minesweeper and renamed Murakumo.[28] On 1 April 1922, she was reclassified as a "utility vessel" for use as a target ship.[29][30] An inspection conducted on 30 January 1925 revealed that her hull and other parts of the ship had deteriorated.[31][32] On 4 June 1925, she was sunk as a live-fire target in the Pacific Ocean off the Sunosaki Lighthouse in Chiba Prefecture.[3]

Commanding officers[edit]

SOURCE:[33]

  • Lieutenant Commander Shushiro Fujimoto 29 March 1898 (pre-commissioning)
  • Lieutenant Commander Shuzo Matsuoka, 22 June 1900 – 11 September 1904
  • Lieutenant Kanta Shimauchi, 11 September 1904 – 12 December 1905
  • Lieutenant Commander Kanta Shimanouchi, 12 December 12, 1905 – 8 February 1906
  • Lieutenant Koichi Masuda: 8 February 1906 – 10 May 1906
  • Commander Kiyoshi Tsukiyama, 10 May 1906 – 4 October 1906
  • Lieutenant Commander Tsuruhiko Horie, 4 October 1906 – 17 May 1907
  • Lieutenant Noda Tameyoshi, 17 May 1907 – 16 May 1908
  • Lieutenant Eijiro Tanabe, 16 May 1908 – 28 May 1908
  • Lieutenant Captain Naonobu Hirata, 28 May 1908 – 25 September 1908
  • Lieutenant Yoshikazu Maekawa, 25 September 1908 – 11 March 1909
  • Lieutenant Kotaro Fujita, 11 March 1909 – 23 May 1911
  • Lieutenant Keiji Yamazaki, 23 May 1911 – 20 December 1912
  • Lieutenant Commander Sohei Horiuchi, 20 December 1912 – 29 May 1914
  • Lieutenant Commander Kazuo Kawakita, 29 May 1914 – unknown
  • Lieutenant Commander Shuzo Adachi: unknown – 13 December 1915
  • Lieutenant Commander Kunitaro Kamimoto, 13 December 1915 – 12 September 1916
  • Lieutenant Noboru Wakayama, 12 September 1916 – 1 December 1916
  • Lieutenant Shuji Ehara, 1 December 1916 – 10 September 1918[34]
  • Lieutenant Genzo Honda, 10 September 1918[34] – unknown

References[edit]

Citations[edit]



(一)^ 314154434 1||GQKB| Murakumo "(April 15, 1898 Kanpo No. 4434. National Diet Library Digital Collection Panel 1 Shingo Fuji/Ship Name/GQKB/Murakumo") (in Japanese)

(二)^ Lyon, The Thornycroft List

(三)^ abcdefghij7 ("History of the Japanese Navy, Vol. 7") (in Japanese), pp. 285286.

(四)^   74 ("Imperial warship photos and historical facts after the end of the Edo period, Frame 74") (in Japanese), National Diet Library Digital Collection

(五)^ 31  3(1)  Ref.C12070040500 6   ("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)

(六)^ 313(1) 14    西 ("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)

(七)^ 313(1) 1617    西 ||        ("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)

(八)^ 3111184617 3 () "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)

(九)^ 324254717 7 () "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).

(十)^ 33  6  Ref.C12070044300 47     ("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)

(11)^ 336 48|| ("1900 June Image 48 "Warship: Destroyer: Shinonome, Murakumo, Yugiri, Shiranui, Kagero, Usugumo, ... ") (in Japanese)

(12)^  3355 336197 3381 1920                  ("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)

(13)^  3355 336197 3381 20                    ("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'"

(14)^  37.8 11  1/1 36483725  Ref.C05110200200 3p.5 "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)

(15)^ abc268 ("United Fleet Gunkan Meiden popular version page 268") (in Japanese).

(16)^ Corbett, Vol. II, pp. 322323.

(17)^ abCorbett, Vol. II, p. 323.

(18)^ Corbett, Vol. II, pp. 323324.

(19)^ Corbett, Vol. II, p. 324.

(20)^ .   370 ("History of naval battles in 1904 and 1905. Volume 2 National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 370") (in Japanese)

(21)^  253 ("Imperial and Imperial Navy National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 253") (in Japanese)

(22)^ 1  8  Ref.C12070064400 33     |||||| ("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)

(23)^ ("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)

(24)^ Halpern.

(25)^ Gilbert, p. 329.

(26)^ #沿8 58()  ("Navy system history volume 8 National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 58 Yugiri, 'Deleted torpedo boats, Hayabusa, Kasasagi, Manzuru, Chidori,") (in Japanese)

(27)^ 8 ()84  Ref.C12070267900 1 ()      ()  ("1919 Navy Gazette (departmental limit): April 1918 Asian Historical Records Center Ref.C12070267900 Image 1 Navy Gazette No. 1964, April 1, 1919 (Tuesday), Navy Minister's Secretariat Order: Murakumo Maru Destroyer Murakumo Named under the headings of the right-hand column") (in Japanese)

(28)^ 9  7  Ref.C12070077300 15     ||||  (1920: July "Center for Asian Historical Records Ref.C12070077300 Image 15 Tatsu No. 105 No. 2 July 1, 1919, Minister of the Navy, Tomosaburo Kato Special duty boat ship name listed on the: Ship type/Ship name and official number/New name  Submarine mothership and minesweeper/Murakumo Maru/Minesweeper Murakumo) (in Japanese)

(29)^ 沿8 73()  ("Naval System History Volume 8 National Diet Library Digital Collection Frame 73 April 1, 1922 (National Ordinance 110) Special Service Boat Classification Classification Table Left No. Revision Minesweeper Second Class Column: Murakumo Delete Yugiri and add Usugumo, Shiranui, Asashio, Shirakumo, Murasame, and Asagiri. Chiyoda, Add Mishima") (in Japanese)

(30)^ 11 ()114  Ref.C12070284800 1() ()    鴿    |()||()|("1922 Naval Gazette (Internal Limit): April 1922 Asian Historical Records Center Ref.C12070284800 Image 1 Navy Gazette (Internal Limit) No. 610 April 1, 1912 (Saturday) Navy Minister's Secretariat; Orders Cabinet No. 1175 Old warships Suo, Tsugo, Okishima, Hashidate, former destroyer Kagero, old torpedo boats Tsubame, Kari, Sotaka, Koro, No. 67, No. 68, No. 70, and No. 71, and the former special-duty boats Murakumo and Yugiri are designated service ships, and their types, ship names, designations, etc., are stipulated. April 1, 1926, Minister of the Navy Baron Yuzaburo Kato: Type/Ship name (public name)/Location") (in Japanese)

(31)^ 14  25(2)  Ref.C08051372800 33()    調 | ("1925 Kumon Remarks Volume 25 Ships: Discarded miscellaneous ships, abolition of use in public property (2); Asian Historical Records Center Ref.C08051372800 Image 33 'Target Ship (Murakumo Kase) Research Report Yoshita Masaki, Chief of Yokosuka Naval Arsenal Investigation of January 30, 1924: Observation 1. It is recognized that the hull and other parts of the hull in general are not worth the cost of repairing the flooded bottom of the hull, and it is not worth spending a lot of money to repair it.") (in Japanese)

(32)^  29   ("Miscellaneous Ship: Stricken Ship Image 29 March 12th, 1924, Minister, February 16th, Yokozane No. 159 No. 2, Approval of the issue of the ship's wreckage") (in Japanese)

(33)^ 910 ("Based on History of General Officers and Official Gazette in Volumes 9 and 10 of History of the Japanese Navy) (in Japanese)

(34)^ ab18337911 ("Official Gazette No. 1833, September 11, 1917") (in Japanese)

Bibliography[edit]

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  • Corbett, Julian S. (1994). Maritime Operations in the Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905, Volume II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-129-7.
  • Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
  • Gilbert, Martin (1995). First World War. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780006376668. OCLC 1244719073.
  • Halpern, Paul G (1994). A Naval History of World War I. Routledge. ISBN 1-85728-498-4.
  • Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
  • Jane, Fred T. (1904). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Thacker, Spink & Co. ASIN: B00085LCZ4.
  • Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
  • Lyon, David (1981). The Thornycroft List. Greenwich: National Maritime Museum.
  • Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-0408-7.
  • Stille, Mark (2016). The Imperial Japanese Navy of the Russo-Japanese War. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1119-6.
  • Watts, Anthony John (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-356-03045-8.