Japanese destroyer Murasame (1937)

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Career

Ordered:
Laid down:	January 7, 1937
Launched:	June 20, 1937
Commissioned:	January 7, 1937
Decommissioned:	March 6, 1943
Fate:	Sunk (March 6, 1943)
Struck:	March 6, 1943
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1685 tons
Length:	109 meters
Beam:
Draft:
Speed:	34 knots
Complement:
Armament:	5x5" Guns

The Murasame (村雨), not to be confused with the later Murasame class destroyer, was a Shiratsuyu Class destroyer sunk overnight March 6, 1943 in the Battle of Blackett Strait. None of its crew survived. Murasame means "Passing Shower", it is the name given to the lengendary sword featured in the Japanese classic Nansō Satomi Hakkenden.

Built in Osaka, Japan.
Escorted transports that landed at Vigan City, northwestern Luzon, on December 11, 1941. The Murasame received slight strafing damage.
Assisted in landings at Tarakan, Borneo on January 21, 1942.
Took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, February 27, 1942.
As part of Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondo's Covering Group, participated in the Battle of Midway, June 1942.
Provided support in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942.
Damaged in an air attack during a supply run on October 5, 1942.
Escorted transports to Guadalcanal October 14 – 15 1942.
Rescued crew of the Yura, October 25, 1942.
Took part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 26, 1942.
Entered an engagement off Guadalcanal (the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal) on November 13, 1942, receiving damage to her forward boiler room. Received repairs November 18 – 29 in Chuuk from repair ship Akashi.
During the beginning of the Battle of Blackett Strait, March 5, 1943, Murasame and Minegumo are believed to have sunk the submarine USS Grampus (SS-207).
On March 6, 1943, the Murasame and Minegumo were caught by American Task Force 68 off Vila, after dropping off supplies to the Japanese base there. Both ships were sunk; the Murasame was sunk by the USS Waller (DD-466).