IJN Murakumo (1898) - Guide 416

The Murakumo class, first purpose built destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy, are today's subject.

Read more about the ships here:

[Aotearas]

Legends say that if Drachinifel mentions japanese torpedo boats and you listen real carefully, you can hear a faint echo of Admiral Rozhestvensky cursing out his ships.

[winterfellyt]

This must be one of those characters in Kamchatka's lucid dreams.

[plastictsubasa]

The picture of Kagerō at 1:36 I find really fascinating. First, it shows what is now non-standard katakana use, as at the time its name was rendered in katakana as カゲロフ rather than the more modern カゲロウ or カゲロー. Japanese orthography was still very much in flux in the Meiji era, but I certainly didn't expect something we'd render in alphabet as "Kagerofu".

Second, it's fun to note that at the time, the later (Taisho and Showa-era) tradition of writing bow-to-stern hadn't yet emerged at this time, and in both this and the image at 4:52 the name is seen written right to left on both port and starboard (as Japanese was typically written at the time when not written vertically). So anyone without much context for historical Japanese orthography would look at it, written as フロゲカ and have a hell of a time looking up the Imperial Japanese destroyer "Furogeka". Also, the dakuten is present on the port but missing on the starboard, so I suppose you'd also be excused for thinking it was the "Furokeka".

[notshapedforsportivetricks]

I wish that there had been a class of RN destroyers named after weather systems. It could have featured HM Ships with names such as: Alright For This Time of Year, Nice Weather for the Ducks, Good for the Garden and Not Bad Once You're In.
Designig the ships' badges might have been a challenge though.

[ThrowawayModeller]

Just a note - the title should note the launch year as there was a fubuki class DD also named Murakumo

[jonbezeau]

"the Japanese found it hard to get their torpedo boats into position" ... cue supercut of IJN torpedo boats teleporting behind Kamchatka

[kenashimame]

I’m just here for all the Kamchatka references.

[beverlychmelik]

30 Knots with tripple expansion engines? I can't imagine how much wibration there was, and in how long they could maintain that speed.

[christophersayers]

Torpedo boats ? In this part of the world ? Localised entirely in your imagination?
Unnamed repair ship captain : yes

[GrahamWKidd]

Thank you for our weekly 5-Minute Guide Drach!

[michaelmoorrees]

"Named after weather systems". No wonder the Kamchatka saw Japanese torpedo boats everywhere ... or was just the vodka ?

[katrinapaton]

Surprisingly competent wee ships for their time, with an impressive combat record to go with it.

[rolanddunk]

A great video, thank you.Its very difficult to imagine triple expansion engines revving up to make 30 knots.

[stuartaaron]

The aggressive nature of Japanese destroyers in WWII seems to have had their start with these ships.

[TravisFisher-hx]

I love these early morning drops when I’m working weekend 12 OT shifts at the Yahd

[boompow]

What a great video to watch before work

[khaelamensha]

Well after a good tour of la Royale aka marine nationale, back to the nipponese ships. I just finished a fine Burgundy, I switch to ramen and sake 😂 Thanks for all the work Drachinifel you are a blessing to all of us 🙏

[bryant]

Those aren't torpedo boats! They don't have nets, fish, and aren't operating in the north sea

[lokischildren]

Thats a bit of a interesting bit of history for BAE systems in Glasgow at goven and scoutsson formaly yarrows

[augustosolari]

Looks Like the kind of vessel that is going to cause Kamchatka a heart attack.