Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Kuroki Masakichi. Assigned to Desdiv 21, Desron 1, First Fleet.

December 1941:
Remained in Japanese home waters, guarding battleships and conducting antisubmarine patrols.

18-23 December:
Departed Tokuyama to meet returning Pearl Harbor Striking Force, then escorted it into Hashirijima.

14-22 January 1942:
Escorted tanker convoy from Tokuyama to Davao.

24 January:
With Kendari invasion force.

8 February:
With Makassar invasion force.

18 February:
With Bali/Lombok invasion force.

28 February-1 March:
In Bali Strait, assisted HATSUSHIMO in sinking a Dutch merchant ship; later engaged but failed to intercept four U.S. destroyers escaping from the Java Sea.

16-25 March:
Steamed from Makassar to Sasebo, then docked for repairs.

29 May:
Departed Ominato, escorting Adak-Attu Attack Force in Aleutians operations.

8 June:
With Attu invasion force.

15 June:
With ABUKUMA, scouted Amchitka Island for possible airfield sites.

1-10 July:
Patrolled in Kiska-area.

18 July-8 August:
Docked at Yokosuka for repairs.

8-12 August:
Steamed from Yokosuka to Paramushiro, then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

3-12 September:
Transport run from Paramushiro to Attu and Kiska.

30 September-3 October:
Transport run from Shimushu to Kiska.

12-16 October:
Transport run from Shimushu to Kiska.

27-30 October:
Escorted ABUKUMA, KISO and TAMA on troop transport run from Paramushiro to Attu.

7 November:
Lieutenant Commander Kuroki relieved by Lieutenant Commander Suetsugu Nobuyoshi (prev. C.O. OKIKAZE).

7-10 November:
Transport run from Shimushu to Kiska.

23-25 November:
Transport run from Paramushiro to Attu.

30 November-3 December:
Escorted ABUKUMA and KISO on troop transport run from Paramushiro to Kiska.

12 December 1942-9 January 1943:
Docked at Sasebo for repairs.

9-11 January:
Steamed from Sasebo to Ominato, then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

31 January-4 February:
Escorted ASAKA MARU on transport run from Paramushiro to Kiska.

13-22 February:
Escorted KISO and SAKITO MARU on transport run from Paramushiro to Kiska and back.

26 March: Battle of the Komandorskis
During escort of troop convoy from Paramushiro to Attu (aborted), engaged U.S. cruiser- destroyer group. Launched torpedoes without effect.

30 March:
Minor damage: in collision with IKAZUCHI.

31 March-3 April:
Escorted NACHI and MAYA from Paramushiro to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs.

1 April:
Desron 1 reassigned to Fifth Fleet.

23 April:
Departed Yokosuka, then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

20 June-2 July:
Escorted convoys from Ominato to Paramushiro and back.

7-17 July:
Initial troop evacuation run to Kiska, aborted due to weather.

22 July-1 August:
Second troop evacuation run to Kiska, successful on 29 July. Medium damage: on 26 July in collision with HATSUSHIMO; detached to escort damaged KUNASHIRI back to Paramushiro. Captain Amano Shigetaka (Comdesdiv 21 and screening force commander) transferred to SHIMAKAZE to continue mission.

9 September-16 October:
Docked at Sasebo for repairs. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)

1 October:
Lieutenant Commander Suetsugu relieved by Lieutenant Commander Ninokata Kanehumi (prev. C.O. NAGATSUKI).

16 October-13 November:
Resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties, then returned to Kure.

24 November-3 December:
Escorted HIYO from Kure via Manila to Singapore.

10-22 December:
Escorted HIYO from Singapore via Tarakan and Palau to Truk.

21 December 1943-9 January 1944:
Escorted ZUIHO and UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka and back.

1 January:
Desdiv 21 reassigned directly to Combined Fleet Headquarters.

18-23 January:
Departed Truk escorting ZUIHO and UNYO; UNYO torpedoed on 19 January and detached to Saipan; continued with ZUIHO to reach Yokosuka.

29 January-16 February:
Escorted ZUIHO and CHIYODA from Yokosuka to Truk and back.

27-29 February:
Steamed from Sasebo to Ominato, then resumed Northern Area patrol/escort duties.

24 June:
Arrived in Yokosuka from Ominato.

28-30 June:
Transport run from Yokosuka to Iwo-jima.

10-14 July:
Transport run from Yokosuka to Iwo-jima.

12-13 August:
Escorted YAMASHIRO and UNYO from Yokosuka to Kure.

16 August-21 September:
Escorted convoys from Kure to Formosa and Luzon and back.

14-21 October:
Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Kure via Amami-O-Shima to Mako (Pescadores), then detached to Takeo, Formosa.

21-23 October:
Aircrew transport run from Takeo to Manila, then departed to join Admiral Shima's 2nd Diversion Attack Force.

24 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Sunk: in attack by aircraft from USS FRANKLIN (CV-13); struck by one or two bombs; off the west coast of Panay (11-50 N, 121-25 E); 42 killed, 27 injured. HATSUHARU rescued 78 survivors and HATSUSHIMO 74, including Comdesdiv 21 (Captain Ishii Hisashi) and Lieutenant Commander Ninokata.

10 December 1944:
Removed from Navy List.