Japanese destroyer Murakumo (1898)

The Murakumo was a Murakumo-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the lead ship of her class, which also included Shinonome, Yugiri, Shiranui, and Usugumo. These destroyers were ordered from the Yarrow shipyard in the United Kingdom as part of the 1896 fiscal year naval expansion program.

Murakumo was laid down in 1897, launched in 1898, and completed the same year. She participated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, where she was involved in various escort and patrol duties. She also saw action in the Battle of Tsushima.

Following the Russo-Japanese War, Murakumo continued to serve with the Japanese fleet. She was re-designated as a second-class destroyer in 1912. She was removed from the navy list in 1921 and subsequently scrapped. The Murakumo-class destroyers, while relatively small and lightly armed compared to later designs, played a crucial role in the early development of the Imperial Japanese Navy's destroyer force.