Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Nakagawa Minoru. Assigned to Desdiv 7, Cardiv 1, First Air Fleet.

December 1941:
Following repairs to propeller damage incurred 1 December while training, remained in Japanese home waters, guarding battleships and conducting antisubmarine patrols.

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.

29 January-25 February:
Escorted NACHI and HAGURO out of Davao in support of Ambon, Makassar and Timor invasion forces; then to Makassar.

1 March:
Assisted in sinking of HMS EXETER, HMS ENCOUNTER and USS POPE (DD-225).

12-25 March:
Escorted convoys from Bali via Lingayen Gulf and Formosa to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs.

10 April:
Desdiv 7 assigned to Desron 10, First Air Fleet.

23-27 April:
Escorted MYOKO and HAGURO from Yokosuka to Truk.

7-8 May: Battle of the Coral Sea
Escorted Admiral Takagi's Striking Force.

16-21 May:
Escorted ZUIKAKU from Truk to Kure.

3-5 June: Battle of Midway
Escorted Admiral Kakuta's Striking Force in air strikes on Dutch Harbor.

6-20 July:
Docked at Yokosuka for repairs.

14 July:
Desdiv 7 reassigned to Combined Fleet Headquarters.

17 August:
Departed Kure, escorting YAMATO and TAIYO towards Truk.

24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Escorted YAMATO and TAIYO; then escorted TAIYO via Maloelap to reach Truk on 4 September.

5-29 September:
Escorted TAIYO from Truk to Palau, Davao, Kavieng and back.

4-16 October:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka and back.

17 October-2 November:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka and back.

20 October:
Lieutenant Commander Nakagawa (to Staff, Second Fleet) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Hanami Kouhei (prev. C.O. ASANAGI).

3-21 November:
Escorted UNYO from Truk via Palau to Davao and back.

24 November-13 December:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Surabaya and Balikpapan and back.

17 December 1942-3 January 1943:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Surabaya and Balikpapan and back.

5-10 January:
Escorted UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs.

1-17 February:
Escorted UNYO and TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.

24 February-12 March:
Escorted UNYO and TAIYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.

20 March-10 April:
Escorted UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.

1-29 May:
Escorted TAIYO from Yokosuka via Manila and Surabaya to Singapore, then back via Mako to Sasebo.

18 May:
Lieutenant Commander Hanami (to C.O. AMAGIRI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Inuzuka Ietaka.

16 June-2 July:
Escorted CHUYO and UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.

6-11 July:
Escorted UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk.

19-24 July:
Escorted RYUHO, CHUYO and UNYO from Truk to Yokosuka.

31 July-16 August:
Escorted UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back.

26 August-11 September:
Escorted UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back, then docked for repairs.

13-19 October:
Escorted UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk.

31 October-6 November:
Escorted JUNYO, UNYO, YAMASHIRO and ISE from Truk to Kure.

16 November-5 December:
Escorted ZUIHO, CHUYO and UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk and back (CHUYO torpedoed and sunk 4 December).

12-17 December:
Escorted ZUIHO and UNYO from Yokosuka to Truk.

22-24 December:
Steamed from Truk to Rabaul.

26 December:
Transport run to Qavuvu.

30 December:
Transport run to Qavuvu.

1 January 1944:
Desdiv 7 reassigned to Desron 1, Fifth Fleet.

12-17 January:
Departed Rabaul to join tanker convoy en route from Palau to Truk. On 14 January rescued 89 survivors of torpedoed SAZANAMI; then with convoy to Truk.

20 January:
Departed Truk escorting convoy, then returned with torpedoed IRAKO.

25 January-5 February:
Steamed from Truk to Saipan, escorted damaged UNYO from Saipan to Yokosuka, then docked for repairs. ("X" turret probably removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts during this refit.)

6-8 April:
Steamed from Yokosuka to Ominato, then Northern Area patrol/ escort duties.

24 May-7 June:
At Otaru for maintenance.

19 June-1 July:
Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Ominato to Yokosuka and back.

31 July-2 August:
Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Ominato to Kure.

14-23 October:
Escorted NACHI and ASHIGARA from Kure via Amami-O-Shima and Mako to Coron.

16 October:
Commander Inuzuka relieved by Commander Yoda Shiro.

24-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Escorted Admiral Shima's 2nd Diversion Attack Force in Battle of Surigao Strait. On 25 October removed 700 survivors from MOGAMI, then scuttled with a torpedo.

26 October:
Arrived in Manila.

1-2 November:
Escorted troop convoy TA No. 2 from Manila to Ormoc.

5 November:
Heavily damaged: in U.S. air raid on Manila, while trying to assist NACHI: left dead in the water and afire with 24 dead and three wounded; towed by USHIO into Cavite Navy Yard.

13-14 November:
Sunk: in U.S. air raid on Manila, while alongside AKISHIMO at Cavite pier (14-35 N, 120- 55 E). Direct bomb hits set both ships ablaze; on 14th a large explosion on AKISHIMO further damaged both ships; AKEBONO sank upright in shallow water. 48 dead, 43 wounded. Survivors included Commander Yoda (to C.O. KEYAKI) and Comdesdiv 7 (Commander Iwagami Juichi, to Comdesdiv 52).

10 January 1945:
Removed from Navy List.