Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Kaneda Kiyoshi. Assigned to Desdiv 15, Desron 2, Second Fleet.

26 November-1 December 1941:
Steamed with Desron 2 from Terashima Strait to Palau.

6-8 December:
Departed Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces, initially escorting RYUJO in attack on Davao.

10-11 December:
Escorted YAEYAMA laying mines in Surigao Strait.

12 December:
With Legaspi invasion force.

20 December:
With Davao invasion force.

25 December:
With Jolo invasion force.

11 January 1942:
With Menado invasion force.

14 January:
With Kendari invasion force.

31 January:
With Ambon invasion force.

8 February:
With Makassar invasion force.

20 February:
With Timor invasion force.

26 February:
Departed Koepang (Timor) to join Southern Force Main Body in operations south of Java.

2-8 March:
Captured Dutch vessel carrying Allied military personnel and escorted it to Makassar; then to Staring Bay (Celebes) by 11 March.

15-22 March:
Escorted KAGA from Staring Bay to Sasebo.

17 April-9 May:
Departed Kure in pursuit of Doolittle task force, then steamed via Formosa to Subic Bay to join blockade of Manila.

10-17 May:
Departed Manila, then escorted damaged SHOKAKU to Kure.

21-25 May:
Steamed with Desron 2 from Kure to Saipan.

3-6 June: Battle of Midway
Escorted Midway troop convoy.

16-30 July:
Escorted KUMANO and SUZUYA from Kure via Singapore to Mergui (Burma) for Indian Ocean raiding operations, aborted due to Guadalcanal.

8-21 August:
Escorted KUMANO and SUZUYA from Mergui via Balikpapan to join fleet north of the Solomons.

24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Advance Force.

September:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons; served as temporary flagship of Comdesron 2 (Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka).

29 September-1 October:
Departed Truk, then escorted NISSHIN from Kavieng to Shortlands.

3 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

6 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

9 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

10-14 October:
Departed Shortlands, then escorted KONGO and HARUNA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted JUNYO.

3-5 November:
Escorted SUZUYA and MAYA from Truk to Shortlands.

7 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

13-15 November: Naval Battles for Guadalcanal
Led escort of Guadalcanal troop convoy as flagship of Comdesron 2 (Admiral Tanaka).

17-18 November:
Escorted SUZUYA, MAYA and TENRYU from Shortlands to Kavieng.

23-24 November:
Transport run from Rabaul to Lae/Salamua, aborted due to air attack. Sunk: in air attack by U.S. Army bombers; was struck forward by bomb, then anchored in bay to fight fires; abandoned when fires reached the munitions she was carrying; 50 killed, 6 wounded. SHIRATSUYU removed survivors, including Commander Kaneda (to C.O. NIIZUKI) and scuttled with a torpedo, in Guna Bay, Huon Gulf (07 S, 147-30 E).

24 December 1942:
Removed from Navy List.