Murasame (村雨, "Passing Shower") [1] was the third of ten Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, and was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the "Circle One" Program (Maru Ichi Keikaku).

From January 1942, Murasame participated in operations in the Netherlands East Indies, including the invasions of Tarakan Island, Balikpapan and eastern Java.

During the Battle of the Java Sea, Murasame engaged a group of Allied cruisers and destroyers with her torpedo battery, but missed all of them.

In late July, she transferred to Mergui via Singapore to join the Indian Ocean raiding force, but the operation was cancelled due to developments at Guadalcanal, and she returned to Truk on 21 August.

Murasame was in the back of the formation and was required to close the range to accurately engage the enemy, missing out on the initial action of the battle.

[6] In February 1943, Murasame returned to Truk escorting the aircraft carrier Chūyō, and continued on to Rabaul to resume transport operations to Kolombangara.

However, that same night they were detected by radar-equipped American ships in Kula Gulf off Vila, after delivering supplies to the Japanese base there.

In a short action, known as the Battle of Blackett Strait, both Japanese ships were sunk; Murasame broke in two from an "extremely violent" explosion after being hit by gunfire and torpedoes from the destroyer USS Waller at position 08°03′S 157°13′E / 8.050°S 157.217°E / -8.050; 157.217.