Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Nakahara Giichiro (prev. C.O. AMAGIRI). Assigned to Desdiv 16, 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.

12 December:
With Legaspi invasion force.

24 December:
With Lamon Bay invasion force.

11 January 1942:
With Menado invasion force.

24 January:
With Kendari invasion force.

31 January:
With Ambon invasion force.

20 February:
With Timor invasion force.

27 February:
With Eastern Java invasion force.

27-28 February: Battle of Java Sea
Took part in torpedo attack on Allied fleet.

March:
Antisubmarine operations in the Java Sea.

29 March-25 April:
Escorted Western New Guinea invasion force out of Ambon for seizure of Sorong, Manokwari and Sarmi/Hollandia, then to Davao.

26 April-2 May:
Steamed from Davao to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

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

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

14 July:
Desdiv 16 reassigned to Desron 10, Third Fleet.

11-30 July:
Escorted transport NANKAI MARU from Yokosuka via Formosa to Rabaul.

5-12 August:
Escorted MOGAMI and AKASHI from Truk to Kure.

16 August:
Departed Kure, escorting fleet towards Truk.

24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Escorted RYUJO and TONE. Assisted in rescue of RYUJO survivors.

3 September:
Commander Nakahara (to Comdesdiv 24, later Comdesdiv 32, C.O. NAGARA) relieved by Commander Motokura Masayoshi (prev. C.O. YUGIRI).

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

4-14 October:
Escorted damaged TAIYO from Truk to Kure.

15 October:
Departed Kure for Truk, then joined fleet patrolling north of the Solomons.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force.

4-10 November:
Escorted ZUIKAKU from Truk to Kure, then training in the Inland Sea.

31 December 1942-4 January 1943:
Escorted ZUIKAKU from Yokosuka to Truk.

7-9 January:
Steamed from Truk to the Shortlands.

10 January:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal (cover). Assisted in sinking PT-43 and PT-112, then escorted damaged HATSUKAZE back to Shortlands.

14 January:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal (cover).

24 January:
Troop transport run to Rekata.

28 January:
Led troop transport run to Russell Islands (cover).

1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

4 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

7 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

13-14 February:
Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul.

18-21 February:
Escorted transport GOKOKU MARU from Rabaul to Gasmata (New Britain) and back.

1-4 March: Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul towards Lae. Sunk: after being hit and left dead in the water early in Allied air attacks of 3 March, with 19 killed. YUKIKAZE removed survivors, including Commander Motokura (to C.O. HAMANAMI); the abandoned hulk was sunk 4 March by Allied aircraft, 55 miles southeast of Finschhafen (07-15 S, 148-15 E).[1]

1 April 1943:
Removed from Navy List.