Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Toyoshima Shunichi. Assigned to Desdiv 17, Desron 1, First Fleet.

18-22 November:
Steamed with Desron 1 from Saeki to Etorofu (Kuriles).

7 December:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's carrier striking force for the attack on Pearl Harbor; then arrived in Kure 24 December.

8-14 January 1942:
Escorted carrier force from Japan to Truk.

20 January:
Escorted carrier force in strikes on Rabaul.

23 January:
Escorted AKAGI and KAGA covering Rabaul/Kavieng landings, then returned to Truk 27 January.

1-8 February:
Escorted carrier force in pursuit of U.S. carriers, then to Palau.

19 February:
Escorted carrier force in air strikes on Port Darwin, then to Staring Bay (Celebes) on 21 February.

25 February:
Departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in operations south of Java.

5 March:
Air strikes on Tjilatjap.

7 March:
Escorted KONGO and HARUNA in bombardment of Christmas Island; then returned to Staring Bay on 11 March.

27 March:
Departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in Indian Ocean raids.

5 April:
Air strikes on Colombo.

9 April:
Air strikes on Trincomalee.

10 April:
Desdiv 17 reassigned to Desron 10, First Air Fleet.

27 April:
Arrived in Kure from Southern operations, then docked for repairs.

4-5 June: Battle of Midway
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force; assisted SORYU, helped HAMAKAZE rescue survivors.

14 July:
Desron 10 reassigned to Third Fleet.

8-15 August:
Steamed from Kure to Rabaul; then guardship for CHOKAI.

22-23 August:
Escorted CHOKAI from Rabaul to Shortlands.

24 August:
Bombarded Henderson Field.

25 August: Battle of Eastern Solomons
Joined escort of Guadalcanal troop convoy; then to the Shortlands on 26 August.

27 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted.

28 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted.

4-6 September:
Escorted convoy from Shortlands to Rabaul.

10-11 September:
Troop evacuation run to Goodenough Island, aborted due to air attacks. Minor damage: due to near-misses.

13-14 September:
Transport run from Rabaul to Gizo; then returned via Shortlands to Rabaul on 17 September.

25-27 September:
Out of Rabaul with MOCHIZUKI to rescue YAYOI survivors from Normanby Island; then to Truk on 30 September.

October:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Abe's Vanguard Force.

2-7 November:
Escorted ZUIHO and KUMANO from Truk to Japan, then docked for repairs.

22 November:
Commander Toyoshima (to Naval Technical Dept.) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Kamiura Sumiya (prev. C.O. HATSUYUKI).

30 November-8 December:
Escorted MYOKO and HAGURO on troop transport mission from Yokosuka via Truk (5 December) to Rabaul; then back to Truk on 10 December.

16-20 December:
Escorted JUNYO out of Truk covering troop convoys to Wewak and Madang.

25-28 December:
Steamed from Truk to Rabaul.

5-10 January 1943:
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul to Lae and back; on 10 January assisted MAIKAZE in sinking USS ARGONAUT (APS-1); then to Shortlands on 13 January.

14 January:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal. Minor damage: in air attacks on 15 January due to near-misses.

23 January:
Troop transport run to Rekata.

25 January:
Escorted troop transport to Kolombangara.

1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

4 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

7 February:
Troop evacuation run to Russell Islands (cover). Medium damage: in air attacks on 8 February; direct bomb hit aft; ten dead.

8-9 February:
Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul; then repairs.

27 February-2 March:
Steamed from Rabaul to Truk; then more repairs.

22-29 March:
Escorted aircraft transport KEIYO MARU from Truk to Kure; then docked for repairs.

10-15 July:
Escorted fleet from Japan to Truk.

19-21 July:
Escorted NISSHIN, MOGAMI, OYODO and AGANO on troop transport mission from Truk to Rabaul.

21-22 July:
Accompanied NISSHIN on troop transport run to Shortlands; later helped rescue NISSHIN survivors.

24-26 July:
Escorted MOGAMI, OYODO and AGANO from Rabaul to Truk.

6-8 August:
Escorted MYOKO and HAGURO from Truk to Rabaul.

17-18 August: Battle off Horaniu
Troop transport run to Vella Lavella (cover). Engaged U.S. destroyers.

22 August:
Troop evacuation run to Rekata, aborted due to suspected enemy presence.

26 August:
Troop evacuation run to Rekata.

1 September:
Transport run to Tuluvu.

4 September:
Transport run to Buka.

28 September:
Troop evacuation run to Kolombangara (cover).

2 October:
Troop evacuation run to Kolombangara (cover).

6-7 October: Battle of Vella Lavella
Troop evacuation run to Vella Lavella (cover). Engaged U.S. destroyers.

8-10 October:
Escorted SUZUYA from Rabaul to Truk.

17-26 October:
Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok in anticipation of U.S. carrier raids, then returned.

1 November:
Lieutenant Commander Kamiura relieved by Lieutenant Commander Maeda Saneho (prev. C.O. IKAZUCHI).

1-4 November:
Escorted troop convoy from Truk to Kavieng. Medium damage: struck mine at Kavieng on 4 November; best speed 16 knots; then back to Truk on 6 November.

12-18 November:
Accompanied damaged SHIRATSUYU from Truk to Kure; then docked for repairs. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)

6-26 January 1944:
Escorted transport ASAKA MARU from Yokosuka via Eniwetok and Kwajalein to Truk.

1-4 February:
Escorted fleet units from Truk to Palau; then returned to Truk on 8 February.

10-13 February:
Escorted fleet units from Truk to Palau.

16-21 February:
Escorted fleet units from Palau to Lingga.

11 March-1 April:
Escorted convoys from Lingga via Palau to Davao.

5-9 April:
Escorted convoy from Davao to Lingga.

12-15 May:
Escorted fleet from Lingga to Tawitawi.

19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted Admiral Ozawa's Force A. Assisted the torpedoed TAIHO and helped rescue survivors.

8-20 July:
Escorted KONGO, NAGATO and MOGAMI on troop transport mission from Kure to Okinawa, then via Manila to Lingga.

12-19 September:
Steamed from Lingga to Kure to pick up FUSO and YAMASHIRO.

22 September-4 October:
Escorted FUSO and YAMASHIRO from Kure to Lingga.

18-20 October:
Escorted fleet from Lingga to Brunei.

23-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Escorted Admiral Kurita's 1st Diversion Attack Force. In Battle off Samar on 25 October took part in torpedo attack on U.S. escort carriers and assisted in sinking of USS JOHNSTON (DD-557).

28 October:
With YUKIKAZE, only destroyers to remain with Admiral Kurita's fleet all the way back to Brunei; refuelled from NAGATO en route.

9-12 November:
Escorted fleet out of Brunei into Sulu Sea in support of Leyte troop transport operations.

15 November:
Desdiv 17 reassigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet.

16-24 November:
Escorted fleet from Brunei to Kure. On 21 November stood by sinking KONGO and rescued 91survivors.

25 November:
Escorted NAGATO to Yokosuka.

28-29 November:
Escorted SHINANO from Yokosuka towards Inland Sea, then assisted torpedoed carrier and helped rescue survivors.

31 December:
Departed Moji, escorting RYUHO and Convoy HI-87 to Formosa. On 8 January escorted damaged HAMAKAZE to Mako.

12-18 January:
Escorted RYUHO from Keelung to Kure.

January-March 1945:
Upkeep and training in the Inland Sea.

6-7 April:
Escorted YAMATO from Inland Sea on attack mission towards Okinawa. Sunk: on 7 April in attacks by aircraft of TF 58; lost steering control due to near-miss; 20 dead and 54 wounded; YUKIKAZE removed 285 survivors, including Lieutenant Commander Maeda and Comdesdiv 17 (Captain Shintani Kiichi), and scuttled with gunfire, 150 miles southwest of Nagasaki (30-46 N, 128-92 E).

25 May 1945:
Removed from Navy List.