Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Koga Yasuji. Assigned to Desdiv 9, Desron 4, Second Fleet.

26-29 November 1941:
Steamed with Desron 4 from Terashima Strait to Mako (Pescadores), then became flagship of Commander, 3rd Surprise Attack Force (Rear Admiral Hirose Sueto).

7-10 December:
Departed Mako, then led Batan Island and Camaguin Island (Philippines) invasion forces.

22 December:
With Lingayen invasion force.

31 December:
Heavy damage: struck a Japanese mine, left dead in the water with flooded engineering spaces; Admiral Hirose transferred to MANAZURU; then alongside YAMABIKO MARU in Lingayen Gulf for emergency repairs.

9 February 1942:
Towed into Hong Kong, then more repairs.

7 April-30 September:
Arrived in Yokosuka from Hong Kong, then docked for repairs.

15 May:
Designated a "Special Duty Ship," Yokosuka Naval District.

20 May:
Commander Koga (to C.O. AKIZUKI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Ono Shirou (prev. C.O. SAWAKAZE).

1 October 1942-20 August 1943:
Local patrol/escort duties out of Yokosuka; a convoy escort mission to Saipan in December 1942 was ship's only operation out of Japanese home waters.

8 February 1943:
Departed Yokosuka, escorting TATSUTA MARU to Truk, aborted when liner was torpedoed and sunk same day with loss of over 1,400 lives.

10 July-20 August:
Lieutenant Commander Ono assigned extra duty as C.O. HARUSAME (under repair).

20 August:
Assigned to Desron 11, First Fleet, for training.

15-16 September:
Assigned to Desdiv 4, Desron 10, Third Fleet, then departed Yokosuka for Shanghai.

24 September-5 October:
Escorted troop convoy from Shanghai via Truk to Rabaul, then to Truk on 9 October.

11-18 October:
Escorted convoy from Truk to Shanghai.

21-28 October:
Escorted troop convoy from Shanghai to Truk.

9-12 November:
Escorted troop convoy from Truk to Rabaul.

13-15 November:
Aircrew transport run from Rabaul to Truk.

18-19 November:
Departed Truk, escorting KASHIMA and CHOGEI towards Kure. On 19 November sank USS SCULPIN (SS-191) with depth charges and gunfire, then rescued 41 survivors and returned 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.

20-25 December:
Escorted YAMATO from Yokosuka to Truk.

30 December 1943-2 January 1944:
Escorted NOSHIRO and OYODO on troop transport run from Truk to Kavieng (1 January) and back. Light damage: in air attack on 1 January due to strafing; flooded fuel tank.

19-22 January:
Escorted tanker KOKUYO MARU from Truk to Rabaul.

24-25 January:
Troop transport run from Kavieng to Lorengau (Manus).

28 January:
Troop transport run from Rabaul to Qavuvu (New Britain).

1-2 February:
Troop transport run from Rabaul to Lorengau.

3-4 February:
Steamed from Rabaul to Truk.

15-23 February:
Escorted transport ASAKA MARU from Truk via Saipan to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)

29 March-7 April:
Escorted ZUIHO from Yokosuka to Guam, then back to Kure.

11-16 May:
Escorted JUNYO, HIYO and RYUHO from Saeki to Tawitawi.

10-12 June:
Escorted YAMATO and MUSASHI from Tawitawi to Batjan to support Biak troop transport operations.

13 June:
Departed Batjan, escorting Admiral Ugaki's task force to join Admiral Ozawa's fleet in Philippine Sea.

19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted Admiral Joshima's Force B.

23-26 June:
Steamed from Okinawa to Guimarras to pick up oil tankers, then to Davao on 29 June.

1-15 July:
Escorted FUSO from Davao via Tarakan to Kure.

15-21 August:
Escorted HARUNA from Sasebo to Singapore.

18-20 October:
Escorted fleet from Lingga to Brunei.

22-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Fuelled from YAMASHIRO, then escorted Admiral Nishimura's Southern Force in Battle of Surigao Strait. Sunk: by torpedoes of USS McDERMUT (DD-677) in Surigao Strait (10-25 N, 125-23 E). Blew up and sank, apparently with all hands.

10 January 1945:
Removed from Navy List.