© 1998 Allyn D. Nevitt
Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Nakasugi Seiji. Assigned to Desdiv 4, Desron 4, Second Fleet.
29 November-2 December 1941:
Steamed from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores).
4 December 1941-11 January 1942:
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Southern Force Main Body out of Mako as distant cover to Malaya and Philippine invasion forces; also briefly escorted Malaya troop convoys during this period.
14-18 January:
Escorted Main Body from Mako to Palau, then operated out of that base as distant cover to Dutch East Indies invasion forces through 15 February.
18-21 February:
Escorted Main Body from Palau to Staring Bay (Celebes).
25 February:
Departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in operations south of Java.
5 March:
Air strikes on Tjilatjap; then returned to Staring Bay on 11 March.
27 March:
Departed Staring Bay, escorting supply group for carrier force in Indian Ocean raids.
14-19 April:
En route back to Japan, escorted the detached SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU into Mako, then rejoined the carrier force.
22 April:
Arrived in Yokosuka from Southern operations, then docked for repairs.
4-5 June: Battle of Midway:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force; assisted KAGA, helped HAGIKAZE rescue survivors; later helped scuttle AKAGI with torpedoes.
9 June-12 July:
Escorted ZUIHO to reinforce Northern Area, then escorted fleet patrolling out of Ominato southwest of the Aleutians.
14 July:
Desdiv 4 reassigned to Desron 10, Third Fleet.
16 August:
Departed Kure, escorting fleet towards Truk.
24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons:
Escorted Admiral Abe's Vanguard Force.
September:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons.
29 September-1 October:
Steamed from Truk to Shortlands.
3 October:
Escorted NISSHIN on troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
6 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
9 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.
11 October:
Departed Shortlands to rejoin fleet north of the Solomons.
26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force, then escorted damaged SHOKAKU and ZUIHO into Truk on 28 October.
2-6 November:
Escorted SHOKAKU from Truk to Kure, then docked for repairs.
1-10 December:
Steamed from Kure via Truk to Shortlands.
13-18 December:
Towed damaged NOWAKI from Shortlands to Truk.
1-3 January 1943:
Steamed from Truk to Rabaul.
5-10 January:
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul to Lae and back; on 7 January rescued survivors of bombed transport NICHIRYU MARU; on 10 January sank USS ARGONAUT (APS-1) assisted by ISOKAZE and seaplane; then to Shortlands on 13 January.
14 January:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal; assisted damaged ARASHI.
23 January:
Troop transport run to Rekata.
25 January:
Escorted troop transport to Kolombangara.
1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal (cover).
4 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal (cover). Medium damage: in air attacks due to near-miss; engine room flooded; towed back to Shortlands by NAGATSUKI.
10-12 February:
Steamed from Shortlands to Truk; then repairs.
6-16 March:
Escorted HAMAKAZE towing damaged MICHISHIO from Truk to Tateyama; then docked at Yokosuka for repairs.
22 June:
Commander Nakasugi (to Osaka Guard District) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Hagio Tsutomu (prev. C.O. URANAMI).
23-28 July:
Escorted TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk.
2-5 August:
Escorted troop convoy from Truk to Rabaul; then returned to Truk.
12 August-2 September:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka and back.
19-25 September:
Escorted ZUIHO from Truk to join fleet at Eniwetok in response to U.S. carrier raids in the Central Pacific, then returned.
10-17 October:
Escorted convoy from Truk to Shanghai.
20-30 October:
Escorted troop convoy from Shanghai to Truk; on 22 October helped NOWAKI rescue 1,000 survivors from torpedoed transport AWATA MARU.
9-12 November:
Escorted troop convoy from Truk to Rabaul.
13-15 November:
Aircrew transport run from Rabaul to Truk.
25 November-7 December:
Escorted tanker NIPPON MARU supporting fleet operating in Marshalls-area in response to U.S. landings on Tarawa, then returned to Truk.
11-16 December:
Escorted KONGO and HARUNA from Truk to Sasebo, then docked for repairs. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)
4-9 January 1944:
Escorted ATAGO from Yokosuka to Truk.
19-22 January:
Escorted KOKUYO MARU from Truk to Rabaul.
24-25 January:
Led troop transport run from Rabaul to Lorengau (Manus).
25-28 January:
Departed Lorengau, joined KOKUYO MARU out of Kavieng, then escorted to Truk.
30 January-12 February:
Escorted convoys from Truk to Rabaul and back.
17 February:
Departed Truk, escorting KATORI and transport AKAGI MARU towards Yokosuka. Sunk: primarily by gunfire of USS MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36) and USS NEW ORLEANS (CA-32) 40 miles northwest of Truk (07-45 N, 151-20 E). Lost with all hands, including Comdesdiv 4 (Captain Isogu Kenma).
31 March 1944:
Removed from Navy List.
