The bridge and forward gun platform were barely raised above the bow, resulting in a wet conning position.

All were powered by triple expansion steam engines for 5,800 shaft horsepower (4,300 kW) and had coal-fired water-tube boilers.

The Murakumo-class vessels reclassified as third-class destroyers on 28 August 1912, and were removed from front-line combat service.

[8] The five surviving vessels were again used in combat with the start of World War I, during the Battle of Tsingtao[9] and in the operations to seize German colonial possessions in the South Pacific.

Shiranui and Kagerō served as tenders to the torpedo school in 1918, and were for disposal at Kure in April 1922 (broken up in 1923).