Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Kamo Kiyoshi (prev. C.O. HATO). Assigned to Desdiv 27, 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.

12-17 January 1942:
Escorted HIRYU and SORYU from Hashirijima to Palau.

21-28 January:
Escorted HIRYU and SORYU out of Palau for air strikes on Ambon.

19 February:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's carrier force in air strikes on Port Darwin, then to Staring Bay (Celebes) on 21 February.

25 February-11 March:
Escorted carrier force out of Staring Bay in operations south of Java.

11-22 March:
Escorted convoy from Staring Bay via the Bonins to Sasebo.

15-25 April:
Steamed from Sasebo to Mako (Pescadores) to pick up SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, then escorted them to Truk.

7-8 May: Battle of the Coral Sea
Escorted Admiral Takagi's Striking Force, then escorted damaged SHOKAKU to the rear.

17-22 May:
Escorted MYOKO and HAGURO from Truk to Kure.

4-5 June: Battle of Midway
Escorted Admiral Takasu's Aleutians Guard Force.

14 July:
Desdiv 27 reassigned to Desron 4, Second Fleet.

11-17 August:
Escorted fleet from Yokosuka to Truk.

20-30 August:
Departed Truk for Jaluit, then troop transport duty out of that base; on 26 August occupied Ocean Island. Then steamed to the Shortlands.

2 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

5 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

8 September:
Attack mission to Guadalcanal.

September-October:
Attached to Cardiv 11 (seaplane carriers) for transport and escort duties; completed seven missions between Shortlands and Rekata.

1 November:
Lieutenant Commander Kamo promoted to Commander.

2 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

5 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

8 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

12-13 November: First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Served as distant screening force to Admiral Abe's Bombardment Force so played no role in battle. Stood by crippled HIEI during air attacks and removed survivors, then to Truk on 18 November.

28 November-3 December:
Steamed from Truk via Rabaul to Shortlands.

3 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal (cover).

18-23 December:
Escorted convoys between Shortlands and Rabaul.

26-27 December:
Troop transport run from Rabaul via the Shortlands to New Georgia.

1-4 January 1943:
Escorted convoy from Rabaul to Truk.

7-12 January:
Escorted ZUIKAKU, MUTSU and SUZUYA from Truk to Kure, then docked at Sasebo for repairs.

3-9 February:
Escorted convoy from Sasebo to Pusan.

12-26 February:
Escorted troop convoy from Pusan via Palau to Wewak.

28 February-2 March:
Aircrew transport run from Wewak to Truk.

8-13 March:
Escorted CHUYO from Truk to Yokosuka.

22-27 March:
Escorted JUNYO and HIYO from Saeki to Truk.

8-13 May:
Escorted YAMATO task force from Truk to Yokosuka.

10-12 June:
Departed Yokosuka, escorting HIYO to Truk; then assisted torpedoed HIYO and escorted ISUZU towing carrier back to Yokosuka.

16-21 June:
Escorted RYUHO from Yokosuka to Truk.

6-9 July:
Escorted SENDAI from Truk to Shortlands; then troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover).

12 July: Battle of Kolombangara
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). Contributed torpedoes to spreads that sank USS GWIN (DD-433) and damaged USS HONOLULU (CL-48) and ST. LOUIS (CL-49).

19-20 July:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). Sunk: by U.S. Marine Avengers from Guadalcanal; took direct 2,000-pound bomb hit amidships and blew up, north-northwest of Kolombangara (07-25 S, 156-45 E). Rescue destroyer KIYONAMI was also sunk, leaving no survivors from among the entire combined KIYONAMI-YUGURE crews of 468 men.

15 October 1943:
Removed from Navy List.