View source for Japanese destroyer Murakumo (1928)

{{Short description|Fubuki-class destroyer}}
{{Other ships|Japanese destroyer Murakumo}}

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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Murakumo.jpg
|Ship caption=''Murakumo''
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=[[Empire of Japan]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
|Ship name=''Murakumo''
|Ship namesake={{ship|Japanese destroyer|Murakumo|1898}}
|Ship ordered=1923 Fiscal Year
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Fujinagata Shipyards]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=''Destroyer No.39''
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down= 25 April 1927
|Ship launched= 27 September 1928
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|Ship commissioned=10 May 1929
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|Ship struck=15 November 1942
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|Ship fate=Sunk in action, 12 October 1942
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}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Fubuki|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|1750|LT|t|lk=in}} standard
*{{convert|2050|LT|t|lk=in}} re-built
|Ship length=
*{{convert|111.96|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|pp]]
*{{convert|115.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} waterline
*{{convert|118.41|m|ft|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam={{convert|10.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draft={{convert|3.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=
*4 × [[Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department|Kampon]] type boilers
*2 × [[Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department|Kampon]] Type ''Ro'' geared turbines
*2 × shafts at {{convert|50000|ihp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{convert|38|kn|mph km/h}} 
|Ship range={{convert|5000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|14|kn|km/h}}

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|Ship complement=219

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|Ship armament=
*6 × [[Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval gun]]s (3×2)
*up to 22 × [[Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun]]s
*up to 10 × 13&nbsp;mm AA guns
*9 × [[Type 93 torpedo|610&nbsp;mm (24&nbsp;in) torpedo]] tubes
*36 × [[depth charge]]s
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{{Infobox service record
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|operations=*[[Second Sino-Japanese War]]
*[[Invasion of French Indochina]]
*[[Battle of Malaya]]
*[[Battle of Sunda Strait]]
*[[Indian Ocean raid]]
*[[Battle of Midway]]
*[[Solomon Islands campaign]]
*[[Guadalcanal campaign]]
*[[Battle of Cape Esperance]]
|victories=
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}}
|}
{{nihongo|'''''Murakumo'''''|叢雲|”Massed Clouds”}}<ref>Nelson. ''Japanese-English Character Dictionary''. Page 79</ref> was the fifth of twenty-four {{sclass|Fubuki|destroyer}}s, built for the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] following [[World War I]]. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world.<ref>{{cite web| last = Globalsecurity.org| url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/fubuki-dd.htm| title = IJN Fubuki class destroyers}}</ref> They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the [[Pacific War]].

==History==
Construction of the advanced ''Fubuki''-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.<ref>Fitzsimons, ''Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare'' p.1040</ref> The ''Fubuki'' class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated {{nihongo|''Special Type destroyers''|特型|Tokugata}}. The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many [[light cruiser]]s in other navies.<ref>Peattie & Evans, ''Kaigun'' page 221-222.</ref> ''Murakumo'', built at the [[Fujinagata Shipyards]] in [[Osaka]] was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 25 April 1927, [[Ship launching|launched]] on 27 September 1928 and commissioned on 10 May 1929.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0423.htm | title= Fubuki class 1st class destroyers | last= Nishidah | first= Hiroshi | year= 2002 | work= Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy | access-date= 2009-03-01 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120711190830/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0423.htm | archive-date= 2012-07-11 | url-status= dead }}</ref> Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 39”, she was completed as ''Murakumo''.

==Operational history==
On completion, ''Murakumo'' was assigned to Destroyer Division 12 under the [[IJN 2nd Fleet]]. During the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], ''Murakumo'' was assigned to patrols of the central [[China]] coast, and participated in the [[Invasion of French Indochina]] in 1940.

===World War II===
At the time of the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], ''Murakumo'' was assigned to Destroyer Division 12 of Desron 3 of the [[IJN 1st Fleet]], and had deployed from [[Kure Naval District]] to the port of Samah on [[Hainan]] Island. From 4 December to 12 December, she covered Japanese landings at [[Kota Bharu]] in [[Battle of Malaya|Malaya]]. From 16 December, ''Murakumo'' was assigned to cover Japanese landings during [[Battle of Borneo (1941–42)|Operation B]] in [[British Borneo]]. During this operation, ''Murakumo'' engaged the Dutch submarine {{HNLMS|K XVI}} with [[depth charge]]s after the submarine had torpedoed the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Sagiri||2}}. Although ''Murakumo'' claimed credit for sinking ''K XVI'', credit was later awarded to the submarine {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-66||2}}.

In February 1942, ''Murakumo'' was part of the escort for the [[heavy cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chōkai||2}} during [[Invasion of Sumatra (1942)|Operation L]], the invasion of [[Bangka Island|Banka]]-[[Palembang]] and [[Anambas Islands]]. ''Murakumo'' joined the Western Java invasion force, and was in the [[Battle of Sunda Strait]] on 1 March, assisting in the sinking of the [[Royal Australian Navy|Australian cruiser]] {{HMAS|Perth|D29|6}}, the [[United States Navy|American cruiser]] {{USS|Houston|CA-30|6}} and the  Dutch destroyer {{HNLMS|Evertsen|1926|6}}.<ref>Muir.[http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Sunda_Strait.htm Order of Battle - The Battle of the Sunda Strait 1942]</ref> On 10 March, ''Murakumo'' was reassigned to Destroyer Division 20 of Desron3 of the IJN 1st Fleet, and subsequently was involved in [[Invasion of Sumatra (1942)|Operation T]] (the invasion of northern Sumatra) on 12 March and [[Invasion and occupation of the Andaman Islands during World War II|Operation D]], (the invasion of the [[Andaman Islands]]) on 23 March. From 13–22 April, ''Murakumo'' returned via Singapore and [[Camranh Bay]] to [[Kure Naval Arsenal]] for maintenance.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/muraku_t.htm | title=  IJN '' Murakumo'': Tabular Record of Movement | last= Nevitt | first=  Allyn D.   | year= 1997 | work= Long Lancers | publisher= Combinedfleet.com}}</ref>

On 4–5 June 1942, ''Murakumo'' participated in the [[Battle of Midway]] as part of Admiral [[Isoroku Yamamoto]]’s main fleet.

In July 1942, ''Murakumo'' sailed from [[Amami-Oshima]] to [[Mako Guard District]], Singapore, [[Sabang, Indonesia|Sabang]] and [[Mergui]] for a projected second Indian Ocean raid. The operation was cancelled due to the [[Guadalcanal campaign]], and ''Murakumo'' was ordered to [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]] instead. From August onwards, ''Murakumo'' was used for "[[Tokyo Express]]" high-speed transport missions in the [[Solomon Islands]]. On one of this missions, on 4–5 September, ''Murakumo'' assisted in sinking the fast transports {{USS|Gregory|APD-3|6}} and {{USS|Little|APD-4|6}}.<ref>Brown. ''Warship Losses of World War Two''</ref>

On another mission on 11–12 October 1942, as ''Murakumo'' was attempting to assist the cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Furutaka||2}} in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Cape Esperance]], she was attacked by [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] aircraft. Three near misses, a torpedo hit and then a bomb hit left the ship unmaneuverable and aflame, with 22 crewmen dead. The destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shirayuki|1928|2}} rescued survivors, including ''Murakumo''{{'}}s skipper, Lieutenant Commander Higashi, then scuttled ''Murakumo'' with a [[torpedo]] {{convert|90|nmi|km}} west-northwest of [[Savo Island]] at position {{coord|08|40|S|159|20|E|display=inline,title}}.<ref>D'Albas. ''Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II''.</ref>

On 15 November 1942, ''Murakumo'' was removed from the [[navy list]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0423.htm | title= Fubuki class destroyers | last= Nishidah | first= Hiroshi | year= 2002 | work= Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy | access-date= 2009-03-01 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120711190830/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0423.htm | archive-date= 2012-07-11 | url-status= dead }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
*{{cite book | last = D'Albas | first = Andrieu| year = 1965 | title = Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II | publisher = Devin-Adair Pub| isbn = 0-8159-5302-X}}
*{{cite book | last = Brown | first = David| year = 1990 | title = Warship Losses of World War Two | publisher = Naval Institute Press| isbn = 1-55750-914-X}}
*{{cite book| last = Dull| first = Paul S.| year = 1978| title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945| publisher = Naval Institute Press| isbn = 0-87021-097-1| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull}}
*{{cite book | last = Howarth | first = Stephen | year = 1983 | title = The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945 | publisher = Atheneum  | isbn = 0-689-11402-8}}
*{{cite book | last = Jentsura | first = Hansgeorg  | year = 1976 | title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945 | publisher = US Naval Institute Press  | isbn = 0-87021-893-X }}
*{{cite book | last = Kilpatrick | first = C. W.| year = 1987| title = Naval Night Battles of the Solomons | publisher = Exposition Press| isbn = 0-682-40333-4}}
*{{cite book | last = Nelson | first = Andrew N. | year = 1967 | title = Japanese–English Character Dictionary | publisher = Tuttle | isbn = 0-8048-0408-7 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/modernreadersjap00nels }}
*{{cite book | last = Watts | first = Anthony J | year = 1967 | title = Japanese Warships of World War II | publisher = Doubleday | isbn =  978-0-3850-9189-3}}
*{{cite book | last = Whitley | first = M J | title = Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia | publisher = Arms and Armour Press | year = 2000 | location = London | isbn = 1-85409-521-8 }}

==External links==
*{{cite web | url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/muraku_t.htm | title=  IJN '' Murakumo'': Tabular Record of Movement | last= Nevitt | first=  Allyn D. | year= 1997 | work= Long Lancers | publisher= Combinedfleet.com}}
*{{cite web | url= http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0423.htm | title= Fubuki class destroyers | last= Nishidah | first= Hiroshi | year= 2002 | work= Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy | access-date= 2009-03-01 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120711190830/http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0423.htm | archive-date= 2012-07-11 | url-status= dead }}
*{{cite web| last = Globalsecurity.org| url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/fubuki-dd.htm| title = IJN Fubuki class destroyers}}
* Muir, Dan [http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Sunda_Strait.htm Order of Battle - The Battle of the Sunda Strait 1942]

{{Fubuki class destroyer}}
{{October 1942 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murakumo}}
[[Category:Fubuki-class destroyers]]
[[Category:1928 ships]]
[[Category:Second Sino-Japanese War naval ships of Japan]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Japan]]
[[Category:Destroyers sunk by aircraft]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Solomon Sea]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1942]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by US aircraft]]
[[Category:Ships built by Fujinagata Shipyards]]