Name Translation: "Mist in the Heavens"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Ashida Buichi [51] (prev. C.O. NAGATSUKI). Assigned to Desdiv 20 (YUGIRI, SAGIRI, ASAGIRI, AMAGIRI), Desron 3, First Fleet.

20-26 November:
Desdiv 20 steamed with Desron 3 from Kure to Samah (Hainan).

4 December 1941-30 January 1942:
Escorted troop convoys out of Samah and Camranh Bay in Malaya invasion operations.

15 February:
With Bangka-Palembang invasion force.

21-24 February:
Covered minesweeping operations at Singapore and Johore Straits.

12 March:
Desdiv 20 with Northern Sumatra invasion force.

23 March:
Desdiv 20 with Andaman Islands invasion force.

6 April: Indian Ocean Raiding Operations
Escorted MOGAMI and MIKUMA; assisted in sinking of three merchant ships.

13-22 April:
Desdiv 20 steamed from Singapore via Camranh Bay to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

4-5 June: Battle of Midway
Desdiv 20 escorted Admiral Takasu's Aleutians Guard Force.

30 June-2 July:
Desdiv 20 escorted troop convoy from Kure to Amami-O-Shima, then antisubmarine patrolling there.

17-31 July:
Desdiv 20 steamed from Amami-O-Shima via Mako, Singapore and Sabang to Mergui (Burma) for Indian Ocean raiding operations, aborted due to Guadalcanal.

8-17 August:
Desdiv 20 steamed from Mergui via Makassar to Davao.

19-23 August:
Desdiv 20 escorted troop convoy from Davao to Truk.

24 August:
Desdiv 20 departed Truk, escorting troop convoy toward Guadalcanal.

26-28 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal (aborted). Transferred troops from transports while at sea (1-5 N, 156-35 E) and steamed ahead towards Guadalcanal. After attack by U.S. dive bombers, rescued ASAGIRI survivors, then towed SHIRAKUMO towards Shortlands until TSUGARU took over; arrived Shortlands on 30 August.

31 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

2 September:
Attack mission to Guadalcanal (cover for TSUGARU troop transport run).

5 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

8 September:
Attack mission to Guadalcanal.

17 September:
Transport run to Guadalcanal: with SAZANAMI, carried food and medical supplies to Kamimbo.

19 September:
Out of Shortlands to assist torpedoed transport SHIROGANE MARU.

27 September:
Barge-towing mission to Rendova, aborted due to high seas.

1 October:
Desdiv 20 deactivated; assigned to Eighth Fleet; on same date barge-towing mission to Rendova.

7 October:
Barge-towing mission to Rendova.

10 October:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

12 October:
Out of Shortlands to join NISSHIN and CHITOSE following Battle of Cape Esperance.

14-15 October:
Escorted CHOKAI and KINUGASA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

31 October-3 November:
Escorted KINUGASA and SENDAI as cover for troop transport runs to Guadalcanal.

5 November:
Transport run to Rekata.

13-15 November: Naval Battles for Guadalcanal
Escorted Guadalcanal troop convoy. With MOCHIZUKI rescued 1,500 survivors of sunken transports CANBERRA MARU and NAGARA MARU, then escorted damaged SADO MARU back to Shortlands.

21 November:
Escorted seaplane carrier SANYO MARU to Rekata.

30 November:
Escorted seaplane carrier SANYO MARU to Rekata.

2 December:
Transport run to Rekata.

9 December:
Transport run to Rekata.

13 December:
Transport run to Rekata.

15 December:
Transport run to Rekata.

19-20 December:
Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul.

23 December:
Accompanied TSUGARU on troop transport run to Munda.

24-29 December:
Escorted damaged ASASHIO from Shortlands to Truk.

6-12 January 1943:
Steamed from Truk to Saipan, then joined escort of ZUIKAKU, MUTSU and SUZUYA en route from Truk to Kure; then docked for repairs.

13 January-10 March:
While at Kure, twin 13mm machine guns added on bandstand forward of bridge.

25 February:
Assigned to Desdiv 11 (SHIRAYUKI, HATSUYUKI, YUGIRI), Desron 3, Eighth Fleet.

10-25 March:
Steamed from Kure via Truk and Rabaul to the Shortlands.

28 March:
Transport run to Rekata.

2-3 April:
Transport run to Rekata and Buka.

7 April:
Transport run to Rekata. Minor damage: when strafed by B-17, 10 casualties; then to Rabaul on 8 April.

10-12 April:
Escorted SENDAI from Rabaul to Truk, then repairs.

21-24 April:
Escorted convoy from Truk to Rabaul.

28-30 April:
Transport run from Rabaul via Shortlands to Rekata and Buka.

3-4 May:
Transport run to Rekata and Buka.

6-7 May:
Transport run to Rekata and Buka.

10 May:
Transport run to Rekata, then to Rabaul on 12 May.

15-18 May:
Departed Rabaul on antisubmarine sweep northwest of Kavieng, then assisted torpedoed YUGIRI and towed back into Rabaul.

25 May:
Commander Ashida (to C.O. HATSUKAZE) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Hanami Kouhei [57] (prev. C.O. AKEBONO).

27-29 May:
Transport run from Rabaul via Shortlands to Rekata and Buka.

31 May-1 June:
Transport run from Shortlands to Rekata.

4 June:
Transport run from Rabaul to Tuluvu.

27-28 June:
Transport run from Rabaul via Shortlands to Rekata.

29 June:
Transport run from Shortlands to Buka.

30 June:
Rendova bombardment mission, aborted due to weather.

2 July:
Rendova bombardment mission.

5-6 July: Battle of Kula Gulf
Troop transport run to Kolombangara. Engaged U.S. cruiser-destroyer group. Minor damage: due to five shell hits: communications knocked out, 10 dead. After battle attempted to rescue NIIZUKI survivors but driven off by USS NICHOLAS (DD-449) and USS RADFORD (DD-446).

7 July:
Escorted CHOKAI from Shortlands to Rabaul, then repairs.

7-31 July:
While at Rabaul, twin 25mm machine guns added abreast aft funnel.

1-2 August:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). Rammed and sank PT-109.

4 August:
Transport run to Tuluvu.

10-11 August:
Escorted CHOKAI from Rabaul to Truk, then docked for repairs.

11-30 August:
While at Truk, 13mm machine guns on bandstand forward of bridge replaced by 25mm.

31 August-4 September:
Escorted convoy from Truk to Rabaul.

21 September:
Transport run to Buka.

28 September:
Troop evacuation run to Kolombangara (cover).

2 October:
Troop evacuation run to Kolombangara (cover).

7 October:
Led troop transport run to Surumi/Gasmata.

21-22 October:
Led troop transport run to Buka and Kavieng.

26-27 October:
Led troop transport run to Buka and Kavieng.

31 October:
Led transport run to Garove Island and Iboki, aborted due to Bougainville landings.

1 November:
Led troop transport run to Bougainville, aborted due to strength of enemy forces offshore.

5 November:
Minor damage: in U.S. air raid on Rabaul: near-miss caused minor flooding.

6 November:
Cape Torokina counter-landing: troop transport run to Bougainville (led transport force). [Note 1]

21 November:
Troop transport/evacuation run to Buka. With ONAMI, MAKINAMI, YUGIRI and UZUKI, delivered 875 troops and removed 655.

24-25 November: Battle of Cape St. George
Troop transport/evacuation run to Buka. Engaged U.S. destroyers.

27 November:
With UZUKI and YUNAGI, transport run to Garove Island.

1 December:
With UZUKI, transport run to Garove Island.

7 December:
Minor damage: to bow, in collision with AKIKAZE near Kavieng.

10 December:
Desdiv 11 deactivated; assigned directly to Desron 3, Eighth Fleet.

13-15 December:
Steamed from Kavieng to Truk, then repairs.

20-21 December:
Departed Truk, escorting TERUKAWA MARU towards Saipan. On 21 December assisted the torpedoed tanker and rescued survivors.

26-31 December:
Escorted tanker convoy from Truk to Palau.

9-14 January 1944:
Escorted convoy from Palau to Ujina; on 12 January rescued survivors of torpedoed aircraft transport NIGITSU MARU; then docked at Kure for repairs.

15 January-22 February:
While at Kure, “X” turret removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts; Type 22 radar installed on foremast; and radar intercept receivers on bridge.

1 March:
Lieutenant Commander Hanami relieved by Lieutenant Commander Yoshinaga Gen [61] (prev. C.O. HOKAZE).

31 March:
Assigned to Desdiv 19, Crudiv 16, Southwest Area Fleet.

1-18 March:
Escorted troop convoys from Moji via Formosa to Singapore.

2-14 April:
Escorted AOBA and OI on transport run from Singapore to Balikpapan and Tarakan and back.

15-19 April:
Escorted AOBA and OI on transport run from Singapore to Penang and back.

20-23 April:
Departed Singapore, escorting AOBA and OI towards Davao. Sunk: struck mine in Makassar Strait, 55 miles south of Balikpapan (02-10 S, 116-45 E); took two hours to sink while AOBA removed crew; number of casualties unknown, but Lieutenant Commander Yoshinaga (to C.O. MATSU) among survivors.

10 June 1944:
Removed from Navy List.

[Note 1] Cape Torokina Counter-Landing operation of 6 November 1943 O.B.: 1st (Close) Cover Force under Comdesron 10 Rear Admiral Osugi Morikazu [41]:
CL AGANO, DDs WAKATSUKI, KAZAGUMO, URAKAZE; 2nd (Distant/Anti-Ship) Cover Force under Comdesron 2 (Rear Admiral Takama Tamotsu [41]):
CL NOSHIRO, DDs HAYANAMI, NAGANAMI; Transport Group under Comdesdiv 31 (Captain Kagawa Kiyoto [46]) Cover Unit: - DDs ONAMI, MAKINAMI; Landing Unit: DDs AMAGIRI, FUMIZUKI, UZUKI, YUNAGI. Landings unopposed, 475 troops quickly sent ashore in 21 barges. Allied ground forces counterattacked these on 7-8 November, killing over 250 and scattering the rest into the jungles.