Murakumo (叢雲, "Gathering Clouds") was the lead ship of six Murakumo-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late 1890s.

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.

[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] 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.

[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.