Name translation: "Fleecy Clouds"

16 February 1941-20 July 1942:
Designated "Reserve Ship" while docked at Maizuru for repairs to severe amidship mine damage on 15 August 1940 off South China coast. Only warship in Combined Fleet not ready for operations in December 1941.

20 June 1942:
Commander Koyama Takeo [46] (to Naval Technical HQ) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Ikeda Shunsaku [54] (prev. C.O. SATSUKI).

20 July:
Assigned to Fifth Fleet.

5-6 August:
Steamed from Maizuru to Ominato, then Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

29 August-18 September:
Escorted convoys from Ominato via Paramushiro to Shimushu and back.

14-15 October:
Escorted seaplane carrier KIMIKAWA MARU from Ominato to Yokosuka.

21 October-13 November:
Escorted KIMIKAWA MARU on transport run to Yokosuka to Kiska and Attu, then to Paramushiro.

6-9 December:
Transport run from Paramushiro to Attu.

23-30 December:
Escorted convoy from Paramushiro to Kiska.

11-27 January 1943:
Escorted convoy from Paramushiro to Kiska and back.

28-31 January:
Transport run from Paramushiro to Attu with KIMIKAWA MARU.

5 February:
Arrives at Ominato.

10-26 February:
Docked at Kure for maintenance.

26-28 February:
Steamed from Kure to Ominato, then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

7 -13 March:
Transport run with KISO, ASAKA MARU,SAKITO MARU from Paramushiro to Attu and back.

23 March:
Depart with SANKO MARU for rendezvous with a main convoy for transport run to Attu.

26 March: Battle of the Komandorskis
Escorting SANKO MARU arrives too late on scene to play a role in battle. Resupply is canceled and all units retire toward Paramushiro.

30 March:
Arrive with SANKO MARU at Paramushiro, a day after the other units.

1 April:
Assigned to Desdiv 9 (ASAGUMO, SHIRAKUMO), Desron 1, Fifth Fleet.

2 April:
Transport run from Paramushiro to Attu, aborted due to weather.

8 April:
Transport run from Paramushiro to Attu, aborted due to weather.

16-30 April:
Docked at Ominato for repairs.

12-15 May:
Departed Ominato to join MAYA, then to Paramushiro.

7-17 July:
With ASAGUMO departs Parmushiro with TAMA, ABUKUMA, AWATA MARU and six destroyers. This is the initial troop evacuation run to Kiska, aborted due to weather.

22 July-1 August:
Second troop evacuation run to Kiska, successful on 29 July. With ABUKUMA, KISO, and five other destroyers, assigned to transport unit. Removed 478 evacuees.

8 November:
Lieutenant Commander Ikeda (to C.O. TANIKAZE) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Wakasugi Jiichi [56] (prev. C.O. MINEKAZE).

20-23 November:
Escorted NACHI from Ominato to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

25 November-27 December 1943:
Refit at Kure. Sonar, IFF equipment, and 20cm signal searchlights are fitted. Degaussing cable is attached. No.2 ("X" turret) removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit. Fuel tanks are equipped with heating system and torpedo tubes winterized for operations in northern waters. A platform for Type-22 air-search radar is installed on the foremast.

26 December:
Runs trials off Kure.

January 1944:
Training in Inland Sea.

23 January-1 February:
Further refit at Kure. The Type-22 radar installation is completed with the installation of the set.[Note 1]

7-9 February:
Escorted NACHI from Tokuyama to Ominato. Then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties. During this time, two 25 mm single mounts are added to increase the AA contingent.

26 February:
Depart Otaru with convoy of three transports (RYOYO MARU, FUKOKU MARU, and AKASHISAN MARU) bound for Matsuwa Island.

28 February:
Arrive at Ominato; depart.

2 March:
AKASHISAN MARU torpedoed by USS SANDLANCE (SS-381) and sunk. Finding no survivors, proceed with RYOYO MARU to Matsuwa Island.

4 March:
RYOYO MARU runs aground at Matsuwa Island and is beached to save her cargo. After removing the crew, with FUKOKU MARU returns to Ominato.

15 March:
Departed Otaru via Kushiro with KASUMI and SHIRAKUMO escorting troop convoy of four transports bound for Uruppu Island, on reinforcement operation to Kuriles.

16 March:
Convoy departs Kushiro for Uruppu Island. However, around midnight the convoy was attacked by USS TAUTOG (SS-199). SHIRAKUMO and NICHEREN MARU torpedoed and sunk. Run aborted; return with convoy to Kushiro.

27 March:
With KASUMI departs Kushiro for renewed run to Uruppu Island with the remaining three marus.

31 March:
Desdiv 9 redesignated Desdiv 18.

3 April:
Arrives at Uruppu Island. After completion of the mission, returns to Ominato area.

30 May-8 June:
Docked at Ominato for maintenance. Torpedo tubes are upgraded to be carry Type-93 torpedoes.

13-30 June:
Escorted convoys from Ominato to Otaru and Yokosuka and back.

2-5 July:
Departed Otaru, escorting convoy of four marus towards Kuriles with AKEBONO,USHIO, and two subchasers.

7 July 1944:
Sunk: At 1615 Torpedoed by USS SKATE (SS- 305) in Sea of Okhotsk, 330 miles west-southwest of Paramushiro (47-43 N, 147-55 E). Two torpedoes struck and broke her back. She listed rapidly to port and sank six minutes after being hit. 267, including Commander Wakasugi, killed in action; 49 survivors rescued.[Note 2]

10 September 1944:
Removed from Navy List.

Editorial Note II - Convoy was KI-504 (Taihi, Umikawa, No.2 Shinko, and Kasado Marus.) A short radio message authored from Usugumo mentions "although avoiding the torpedoes sighted by turning around" the ship was struck anyway. Skate had fired three at Usugumo's starboard side and heard two hits. Skate observed the target had made just such a 180 degree turn after emerging from smoke of the explosions and Usugumo listing 75 degrees to port. Given the radio message correlation, it is tempting to conclude that Usugumo somehow reversed course too quickly back into the path of torpedoes just avoided and was struck on the opposite, ie, port, side. However, this is speculation, and unfortunately the range and timing of torpedo run and hit details are not available to make a calculation. Although the Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy and some online sources report Kasado Maru as damaged and Skate claimed one hit from a second triple salvo fired at a freighter, this remains to be verified. 27th Army HQ at Tennei, Kuriles broadcast a report of the incident at 2131 7 July 1944. It is not unlikely that Usugumo and her convoy had stopped at Tennei just prior as this was a common port of call on such a run. - (Tully)