14 March 1942:
Completed at Maizuru; assigned same date to Desdiv 10. Ship's captain: Commander Fujita Isamu.

10 April:
Desdiv 10 assigned to Desron 10, First Air Fleet.

4-5 June: Battle of Midway
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force; assisted HIRYU, helped KAZAGUMO rescue survivors, then attempted to scuttle with torpedo. Minor damage: to mast while laying too close alongside the HIRYU.

24 June-7 July:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Ominato southwest of the Aleutians.

14 July:
Desron 10 reassigned to Third Fleet.

16 August:
Departed Kure, escorting fleet towards Truk.

24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force.

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

29 September-1 October:
Steamed from Truk to the Shortlands.

3 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

6 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

9 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

10 October:
Departed Shortlands to rejoin fleet north of the Solomons.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Abe's Vanguard Force. Assisted AKIGUMO in scuttling of USS HORNET (CV-8) with torpedoes.

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

10 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

13-14 November: Naval Battles of Guadalcanal
Escorted Admiral Nishimura's Bombardment Force; on 14 November assisted KAZAGUMO in rescuing KINUGASA survivors.

16-17 November:
Escorted CHOKAI from Shortlands to Rabaul, then troop transport run to Buna.

22 November:
Troop transport run to Buna.

28-29 November:
Troop transport run to Buna, aborted due to air attack. Light damage: when near-missed and set afire by U.S. aircraft.

16-21 December:
Escorted troop transport KIYOZUMI MARU from Rabaul to Wewak and back.

23-29 December:
Steamed from Truk to Japan, then docked for repairs.

9-27 January 1943:
Steamed from Japan via Truk and Rabaul to the Shortlands.

1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal. Sunk: after hitting a mine while maneuvering to avoid PT-boat attack; three killed, two missing, seven injured. YUGUMO removed 237 survivors, including Commander Fujita, and scuttled with a torpedo, three miles south-southwest of Savo Island (09-15 S, 159-47 E).

1 March 1943:
Removed from Navy List.