Name Translation: "Autumn Wind"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Mori Takuji [56] (prev. C.O. MINEKAZE). Assigned to Desdiv 34 (AKIKAZE, HAKAZE, TACHIKAZE), Eleventh Air Fleet.

7-12 December 1941:
Departed Takao, then air-sea rescue duties during initial Philippine air strikes.

13-23 December:
Escorted aircraft transport KAMOGAWA MARU from Takao to Legaspi and back.

26-31 December:
Escorted convoy from Takao to Davao, then patrol/escort duties out of that base.

24 January-6 February 1942:
Escorted convoy from Davao to Takao and back.

8-10 February:
Escorted convoy from Davao to Ambon, then patrol/escort duties out of that base.

22 April-4 May:
Escorted shipping from Ambon via Davao and Takao to Maizuru, then docked for upkeep.

8-22 June:
Escorted shipping from Sasebo via Saipan and Truk to Rabaul.

29 June-5 July:
Escorted aircraft transport MOGAMIGAWA MARU from Rabaul to Tulagi and back.

6-21 July:
Escorted convoy from Rabaul to Saipan and Truk and back.

23-27 July:
Escorted MOGAMIGAWA MARU from Rabaul to Lae and back.

1-4 August:
Escorted MOGAMIGAWA MARU from Rabaul to Kavieng and back.

7 August:
Transport run to Buka.

9 August:
Transport run to Buka.

15 August-3 September:
Escorted AKITSUSHIMA between Rabaul, Buka and Shortlands.

19 September:
Transport run to Rekata.

21 September-5 October:
Escorted AKITSUSHIMA between Shortlands, Buka and Rabaul.

7 October:
Out of Rabaul to meet ZUIHO (delivering aircraft).

10-19 October:
Rabaul-Buka patrol/escort duties.

20 October:
Lieutenant Commander Mori (to C.O. HIBIKI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Sabe Tsurukichi [60].

20-31 October:
Escorted AKITSUSHIMA between Rabaul, Shortlands and Rekata.

1 November:
Towed torpedoed transport NOTO MARU into Rabaul.

4 November:
Transport run to Buka.

9 November:
Out of Rabaul to meet TAIYO (delivering aircraft).

11-26 November:
Rabaul-Kavieng patrol/escort duties.

10-22 December:
Transport run from Rabaul to Kwajalein and Taroa and back.

31 December 1942-16 January 1943:
Rabaul-Kavieng patrol/escort duties.

17 January-21 February:
Rabaul-Buka-Shortlands patrol/escort duties.

21 February-3 March:
Escorted AKITSUSHIMA from Shortlands to Nauru and Jaluit and back to Rabaul.

8-18 March:
Rabaul-Kavieng-Kairiru Island (Wewak)-Manus transport duty.

14 March:
Attacked submarine--possibly USS TRITON (SS-201)--near Kairiru.

18 March:
Between Kavieng and Rabaul, 60 civilian internees collected from Kairiru and Lorengau executed and disposed of at sea. [Note 1]

18 March-3 April:
Escorted convoys from Rabaul via Jaluit and Saipan to Sasebo, then docked at Maizuru for refitting.

1 April:
Desdiv 34 deactivated; assigned directly to 11th Air Fleet

25 May-3 June:
Escorted TSUGARU from Yokosuka via Truk to Rabaul.

5 June:
Transport run to Surumi.

9-29 June:
Rabaul-Buka-Shortlands patrol/escort duties.

1-22 July:
Rabaul-area patrol/escort duties.

26-28 July:
Transport run to Surumi; then to Tuluvu-area to assist rescue of ARIAKE-MIKAZUKI survivors.

31 July:
Transport run to Surumi.

1 August:
Lieutenant Commander Sabe promoted to Commander.

2 August:
Heavy damage: in air attack, south of Rabaul: major damage in vicinity of bridge, 23 casualties including Commander Sabe killed in action; to Rabaul on 3 August for emergency repairs.

10 August:
Commander Sabe replaced by Lieutenant Commander Yamazaki Nitaro [58].

26 August-6 September:
Steamed from Rabaul via Truk and Saipan to Sasebo, then docked at Maizuru for repairs.

7-18 November:
With YUGIRI, aircrew/airbase materials transport mission from Tateyama via Saipan and Truk to Rabaul.

22 November:
With YUNAGI, troop transport run to Qavuvu.

25 November:
With FUMIZUKI and YUNAGI, troop transport run to Cape Dampier.

27 November:
With YUNAGI, troop transport run to Qavuvu.

29 November:
With YUNAGI, troop transport run to Qavuvu.

1 December:
With FUMIZUKI and MINAZUKI, troop transport run to Iboki.

7 December:
Medium damage: in collision with AMAGIRI near Kavieng: starboard side damaged.

16-22 December:
Steamed from Kavieng via Rabaul to Truk. Light damage: on 21 December in air attack north of Rabaul due to near-miss: sheared rivets and some flooding; then docked at Truk for repairs.

23-25 January 1944:
Steamed from Truk to Rabaul.

26 January:
With FUMIZUKI, troop transport run to Qavuvu.

28 January:
With YAMAGUMO, troop transport run to Qavuvu.

1-2 February:
With YAMAGUMO, troop transport run to Lorengau.

5-7 February:
Steamed from Rabaul to Truk.

17-18 February:
Weathered air attacks at Truk without damage.

19-24 February:
Escorted AKASHI from Truk to Palau.

4-7 March:
Escorted convoy from Palau to Truk.

8-12 March:
Escorted convoy from Truk to Woleai and back.

17-21 March:
Escorted convoy from Truk via Woleai to Saipan.

22-31 March:
Escorted convoy from Saipan to Palau and back, then patrol/escort duties out of that base.

16-17 April:
Depart Woleai, escorting MATSUE MARU towards Guam. On 17 April assisted torpedoed MATSUE MARU and rescued survivors.

22-26 April:
Escorted YAMABIKO MARU from Saipan to Yokosuka, then docked at Maizuru for repairs.

1 May:
Assigned to Desdiv 30 (YUZUKI, UZUKI, MATSUKAZE), Desron 3, Central Pacific Area Fleet.

15-23 June:
Escorted convoy from Tokuyama via Takao to Davao.

29 June-3 July:
Escorted convoy from Davao to Manila, then patrol/escort duties out of that base.

18 July:
Desron 3 reassigned to Combined Fleet.

25-27 July:
Escorted TAIYO, ASAMA MARU and GOKOKU MARU from Manila to Takao.

20 August:
Desdiv 30 reassigned to 31st Escort Squadron, Combined Fleet.

29 September-20 October:
At Sasebo for refitting.

24-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Led escort of 2nd Supply Force for Admiral Ozawa's Northern Force. Departed Kure on 24 October; on 25 October assisted torpedoed tanker JINEI MARU and helped rescue survivors; then to Mako.

1-3 November:
Departed Mako, escorting JUNYO and KISO toward Brunei. Sunk: torpedoed by USS PINTADO (SS-387) 160 miles west of Cape Bolinao, Luzon (16-48 N, 117-17 E). Number of survivors, if any, unknown, but Lieutenant Commander Yamazaki killed in action.

10 January 1945:
Removed from Navy List.

[Note 1] For details of the Akikaze Massacre, see Tanaka, Yuki. Hidden Horrors: Japanese War Crimes in World War II. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, c1996, pp. 171-182.