@Updated - February 27, 2012 - Allyn Nevitt

@Revised - Allyn Nevitt with Anthony Tully

Name Translation: "Heavenly Wind"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Hara Tameichi [49] (prev. C.O. YAMAGUMO). Assigned to Desdiv 16 (YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE), Desron 2, Second Fleet.

26 November-1 December 1941:
Desdiv 16 steamed with Desron 2 from Terashima Strait to Palau.

6-15 December:
Escorted RYUJO out of Palau, supporting Southern Philippine attack forces.

12 December:
Arrived Legaspi. Departed next day. Hereafter performing guard duty around the anchorage.

19 December:
Departed Legaspi.

20 December:
With Davao invasion force. One crewman killed while securing shipping in harbor.

22 December:
Arrived at Lamon Bay. Subequent days patrolled the sea area.

26 December:
Left Lamon Bay.

29 December:
Arrived at Palau.

1942

6 January:
Arrived at Magnaga Bay to join the invasion forces assembled for Menado.

9 Janauray:
Member of 2nd Escort Unit under tactical command of Comdesron 2 comprised of Desron 2: JINTSU, Desdiv 15, Desdiv 16; plus 21st Minesweeper Division, 1st Subchaser Division, and Patrol Boats Nos.1, 2, and 34. Departed Magnaga Bay for Menado invasion.

11 January 1942:
With Menado invasion force now landing.

17 January:
Arrived at Banka anchorage.

24 January:
With Kendari invasion force.

29 January:
With Ambon invasion force. Captain of AMATSUKAZE assigned to command the 2nd Detachment: Second Section of Desdiv 16 (AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE) and Minesweepers Nos.9 and 11. Mission to escort 2nd Echelon and cover its disembarkation.
0000: Desdiv 16 and the 2nd Echelong departed Bangka, rendezvoused with JINTSU, and sailed southward following the 1st Echelon at an interval of 25 nautical miles.
1623: AMATSUKAZE detected an enemy submarine and launched attack, but with uncertain results.

30 January:
Approaching Ambon Bay.
Action:
- 2216 HINO-MARU No.5 was attacked by by submarine but avoided three torpedoes. AMATSUKAZE and Minesweeper No.11 immediately counterattacked. AMATSUKAZE spotted surfaced submarine at 6,000 meters but lost it when it submerged. Proceeded with mission.

2300: 2nd Echelon entered Hitulama anchorage.

20 February:
With Timor invasion force.

21 February:
Arrived at Saemau anchorage.

24 February:
AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE departed Semau and joined JINTSU. Desron 2 left the Kupang area.

25 February:
JINTSU and Desdiv 16 arrived at Makassar. Departed again the same day.
B-24 and then two B-17 bombers approached. AA fire opened and the enemy was driven off.

27 February: Battle of the Java Sea [1]
Desdiv 16 with Eastern Java Invasion Force. AMATSUKAZE took part in torpedo attack on Allied fleet.

Action:
TOKISUKAZE and AMATSUKAZE drove off with gunfire two B-17s stalking the convoy.
- 1659 JINTSU reported sighting the enemy's masts bearing 150 degrees, distant 29 kilometers. At the same time Crudiv 5 is sighted bearing 320 degrees. Desron 2 takes up position eight kilometers ahead of Crudiv 5 and commenced run in for battle.
- 1745 Opened fire on leadning enemy destroyer.
- 1837 Comcrudiv 5 ordered all forces to "charge" to the attack. The enemy was potentially too close to the convoy.
- 1925 AMATSUKAZE and the rest of Desdiv 16 launched torpedoes at a range of 9,000 meters.
- 1940 Fire checked. Comdesron 2 ordered all units to "assemble"
- 2037 Desdiv 16 rejoined JINTSU. Column headed northwestard to combine with Crudiv 5.
- 2055 Enemy sighted illuminating Crudiv 5 with starshells. Hurried to asist but the enemy disengaged and escaped.

28 Feburary:
0054: Sight gunfire to northeast. Prepared for torpedo battle.[But no further encounter came]
0720: With Crudiv 5, Desron 2 joined line behind Main Force (ASHIGARA, MYOKO, IKAZUCHI, INAZUMA, AKEBONO)
Action
- 1015 Enemy plane attacked. AA-action.
- 1636 Sighted flying boat closely inspecting the force. Opened fire and drove it off. Sixteen rounds of main battery expended.

1645: AMATSUKAZE replaced MURASAME of Desron 4 investigating Dutch hospital ship OP TEN NOORT intercepted at 1415 in position bearing 229 degrees 35 miles from Bawean Island. (Only officers were aboard, no patients or wounded found). Since MURASAME had also visited, released it.
1750: Because it had observed the convoy Comdesron 4 requested AMATSUKAZE take the OP TEN NOORT to north of Bawean Island for detainment outside the invasion force's path. The Dutchman is instructed to wait there till 2200 3 March after which will be released.

1 March:
Action:
- 0110 In position bearing 225 degrees 65 nautical miles from Bawean Island AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE sighted and engaged a surfaced enemy submarine. AMATSUKAZE fired 32 rounds at 2,500 meters than dropped six depth charges. HATSUKAZE fired five shells and also dropped six depth charges. Submarine believed sunk. [2]

2130: CO Third Fleet ordered JINTSU to have AMATSUKAZE proceed to Bawean without delay and take charge of the Dutch hospital ship OP TEN NOORT (then under guard from CHITOSE and MIZUHO) and take it to Bandjarmasin as it will be needed for the large number of enemy survivors being rescued.
Action:
- 2225 AMATSUKAZE with HATSUKAZE sighted surfaced enemy submarine bearing 230 degrees, 48 nautical miles from Bawean Island. Chased and attacked with a total of 4 depth charges. Results unknown.

2330: Ordered to steam to Bawean Island, take charge of Dutch hospital ship OP TEN NOORT detained there, and escort it to Bandjarmasin. Then return with a load of fuel for distribution among ships of Desron 2.

2 March:
1700: Arrived at Bandjarmasin (Borneo) with Dutch hospital ship OP TEN NOORT. Turned over to custody of AOTAKA. Replenished and refueled.[3]
2015: Departed Bandjarmasin.

3 March:
1200: AMATSUKAZE returned to patrol area north of Kragan.
1430: JINTSU, AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE now joined by ASASHIO and ARASHIO of Desdiv 8 commenced anti-submarine sweep patrol.
Action:
- 2002 JINTSU sighted surfaced enemy submarine and directed AMATSUKAZE to attack it.
- 2026 AMATSUKAZE confirmed sighting surfaced enemy submarine bearing 234 degrees, 41 nautical miles from Bawean Island. Opened fire with searchlight turned on. Six hits confirmed; vast amount of air and bubbles. Sinking seemed certain; to confirm dropped 4 depth charges. Submarine fired torpedoes at AMATSUKAZE and JINTSU. No damage sustained.

5 March:
2000: After AMATSUKAZE and HATSUKAZE transferred their fuel to JINTSU, keeping only 100 tons aboard; they proceeded to Bandjarmasin on a second replenishment run.

6 March:
Arrived at Bandjarmasin. Replenished. Departed that evening.

31 March:
2030: AMATSUKAZE arrived at Christmas Island to assist in anti-submarine sweep operations.

1 April:
Action:
- 1804: NAKA struck by torpedo from submarine bearing 6.3 nautical miles 28 degrees from Smith Point and is temporarily disabled. Desdiv 9 summoned AMATSUKAZE and Patrol Boat No.34 to the scene to screen the crippled cruiser while Desdiv 9 hunted the submarine.
- 2230 NATORI took NAKA in tow for Bantam Bay, escorted by AMATSUKAZE and Desdiv 9 first section.

3 April:
1330: Arrived at Bantam Bay. AMATSUKAZE then was released and departed for Makassar.

25 April-3 May:
Steamed from Makassar to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

21-25 May:
Desdiv 16 steamed with Desron 2 from Kure to Saipan.

3-6 June: Battle of Midway
Desdiv 16 escorted Midway troop convoy.

5 June:
2400: Sighted AKAGI on fire 5,000 meters to the eastward but no sign of the enemy. At this time Desron 2 ordered to cancel attack plans and retired northwest.

14 July:
Desdiv 16 reassigned to Desron 10, Third Fleet.

16 August:
Departed Kure, escorting fleet towards Truk.

24 August: Battle of the Eastern Solomons
With TOKITSUKAZE, escorted RYUJO and TONE. Assisted in rescue of RYUJO survivors. Also recovered a ditched ZUIKAKU bomber crew.

September-October:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons.

12-13 October:
With YUKIKAZE, scouted Ndeni Island, looking for U.S. seaplane base.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's Striking Force.

12-13 November: First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Escorted Admiral Abe's Bombardment Force. Torpedoed and sank USS BARTON (DD-599). Medium damage: by gunfire of USS HELENA (CL-50): hydraulic systems crippled, silencing guns and jamming rudder; 43 dead.

18-25 November:
Emergency repairs at Truk.

26 November-1 December:
Steamed from Truk to Kure, then docked for repairs. Repairs probably included twin 25mm machine guns added on bandstand forward of bridge; twin 25mm machine guns at aft funnel replaced by triple mountings; and radar-detecting device installed on bridge.

10 January 1943:
Commander Hara (to Comdesdiv 27, later C.O. YAHAGI) relieved by Commander Tanaka Masao [50] (prev. C.O. FUMIZUKI).

5-10 February:
Escorted SUZUYA from Kure to Truk.

15-17 February:
With URAKAZE, aircrew (ground-support units of ZUIHO) transport run from Truk to Wewak.

17-23 February:
Assisted URAKAZE towing damaged HARUSAME from Wewak to Truk.

29 March-3 April:
Escorted convoy from Truk to Palau.

6-18 April:
With Subchaser No. 34, escorted troop convoy (Hansa No. 2A: SYDNEY MARU, TOHO MARU and TEIRYU MARU, lifting units of 20^th Division) from Palau to Hansa Bay and back. On 12 April SYDNEY MARU lost in bombing attack in Hansa Bay.

26 April-6 May:
With URAKAZE and Subchasers Nos. 26 and 34, escorted troop convoy (Wewak No. 3: No. 1 Shinsei Maru, Bunzan Maru, Kanko Maru, Hofuku Maru, No. 13 Hakutetsu Maru, and San Francisco Maru, lifting units of 41st Division) from Palau to Wewak and back.

8-17 May:
With URAKAZE and Subchaser No. 34, escorted troop convoy (Wewak No. 4: TEIRYU MARU, No. 3 YOSHIDA MARU, TOHO MARU, MAYA MARU, and ARATAMA MARU, lifting units of 41st Division) from Palau to Wewak and back.

23 May-3 June:
With URAKAZE, escorted troop convoy (Hansa No. 3: HOFUKU MARU, No. 1 SHINSEI MARU, DENMARK MARU, SHINYU MARU and No. 13 HAKUTETSU MARU, lifting units of 20th Division) from Palau to Hansa Bay and back.

5-15 June:
With URAKAZE, escorted troop convoy (Wewak No. 5: MAYA MARU, No. 3 YOSHIDA MARU, BENGAL MARU, and HAKKA MARU, lifting units of 41st Division) from Palau to Wewak and back. During return voyage convoy joined by auxiliary gunboat KAZAN MARU.

21 June-2 July:
With URAKAZE, escorted troop convoy (Hansa No. 4: DENMARK MARU, NAGANO MARU, KANKO MARU, YUBAE MARU and SHINYU MARU, lifting units of 20th Division) from Palau to Hansa Bay and back.

5-17 July:
With URAKAZE and SHIRATAKA, escorted troop convoy (Wewak No. 6: BENGAL MARU, No. 3 YOSHIDA MARU, No. 1 SHINSEI MARU, MAYA MARU and TOHO MARU, lifting units of 41st Division) from Palau to Wewak and back. On return voyage escorted URAKAZE towing disabled TOHO MARU back to Palau.

19-24 July:
With URAKAZE, escorted convoy from Palau to Truk.

25 July-1 August:
With URAKAZE, escorted convoy from Truk to Kure, then docked for maintenance. Possibly received Type 22 radar mounted on foremast during this refit.

16-23 August:
With HATSUKAZE, escorted YAMATO from Kure to Truk as part of larger fleet deployment.

18-25 September:
Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok and back in response to U.S. carrier raids in the Central Pacific.

21-27 October:
Escorted tanker HOYO MARU from Truk to Eniwetok and back in support of fleet operating in Marshalls-area.

2 November:
Departed Truk on aircrew transport run to Rabaul, but diverted to assist damaged tanker NISSHO MARU.

11 November:
Commander Tanaka promoted to Captain.

12-24 November:
Escorted convoys from Truk to Palau and back.

7-14 December:
Escorted CHITOSE and IRAKO from Truk to Yokosuka.

10 January 1944:
Relief of Captain Tanaka by Lieutenant Commander Suga Akiji [56] (C.O. SAZANAMI) ordered but never realized due to Suga's death in SAZANAMI's sinking.

11-16 January:
With YUKIKAZE and CHITOSE, escorted high-speed tanker convoy (HI-31: OMUROSAN MARU, TATEKAWA MARU, ITSUKUSHIMA MARU, GENYO MARU, KUROSHIO MARU, HOKUROKU MARU) from Moji bound for Singapore. Heavy damage: torpedoed north of the Spratly Islands by USS REDFIN (SS-272). Explosion of No.1 TT mount severed bow and killed 80, including Comdesdiv 16 (Captain Furukawa Bunji [49]). However, Captain Tanaka (to 2nd Surface Escort Group; later Instructor, Torpedo School) survives to take charge of the aft section. Presumed sunk by convoy, left adrift for six days until discovery by patrol plane.[4]

24-30 January:
Towed by ASAGAO to Cape St. Jacques, then emergency repairs.

15 March:
Captain Sasaki Takanobu [47] (X.O., 11th Special Base Force) assigned extra duty as ship's captain, releiving Captain Tanaka.

31 March:
Removed from Desdiv 16; attached to First Southern Expeditionary Fleet, Southwest Area Fleet.

2 September:
Captain Sasaki relieved by Captain Hasebe Yoshizo [40] (C.O. HAYATOMO).

15 November:
Arrived in Singapore for fitting of temporary "wave-cutter" bow, then local escort duties.[5]

10 February 1945:
Captain Hasebe relieved by Lieutenant Morita Tomoyuki [68].

19-30 March:
Escorted convoy (HI-88J: last convoy to depart Singapore for Japan) from Singapore to Yulin. However, when enemy B-25's raid Yulin, AMATSUKAZE shoots one down. The heavy losses led to the convoy's official dissolution at Yulin.[6]

31 March:
AMATSUKAZE, CD MANJU, No.18, SC-20, and No.9 depart Yulin for the homeland.

2 April:
Arrived at Hong Kong.

3 April:
Hong Kong raided by about 50 enemy B-24s. MANJU damaged in the attack.

4 April:
1730: AMATSUKAZE, No.18, SC-20, CD No.1, CD. No. 134 (Flag Cmdr. Hirano), and No.9 depart Hong Kong with convoy HO-MO-03 of two marus; KINE [or KOSHI] MARU and DAI 2 TOKAI MARU. MANJU remains at Hong Kong.

5 April:
Starting early morning throughout day, convoy undergoes air attack from land-based bombers. SC No.9 is damaged and forced to return to Hong Kong. KINE [or KOSHI] MARU and DAI 2 TOKAI MARU are sunk; after rescueing their survivors SC-20 returns to Hong Kong.

6 April:
- 1140 South of Amoy, twenty-four B-25s attack the small convoy. CD No.1 and No. 134 are quickly sunk.
- 1230 By this time AMATSUKAZE receives three three direct hits from the B-25s in turn. One struck in the auxiliary machinery room buckling the lattice mainmast above it; a second in the radio room, and the third in the wardroom. In addition, multiple rocket hits damaged the barrels of the aft two turrets. The rear bridge was collapsed and topside damage heavy. All power was lost and Amatsukaze became adrift with bad fires raging aft. Amatsukaze claimed five planes shot down, and four damaged.(It was actually three planes destroyed).[7]
- 2015 AMATSUKAZE arrived off Amoy harbor continuing to drift.
- 2100 With rudder having failed and unable to anchor she runs aground (possibly deliberately to avoid sinking) on the shoals south of Amoy Harbor. Fires continue to burn throughout the night. Six officers, including Lt. Morita and 150 men survived; 3 officers, 1 passenger, and 41 crew lost.

8 April:
A message is sent requesting a tow vessel. However worsening weather and rising seas cause additional flooding. The ship is lightened, and that evening the storm floats her clear. Assisted by army boats AMATSUKAZE drifts across the bay and grounds at 24-15'N, 118-00'E. Continued bad weather frustrates salvage attempts. She soon fully bottoms with both engine rooms flooded.

10 April:
Sunk: By this time the destroyer is a wreck, reporting: Hull, ordnance, engine rooms, radio room, aft officer's ron. The wreck is blown up, and designated as a target to be used by Japanese bombers for training.[8]

10 May:
Designated “Reserve Ship 4th Class,” later expended as target for Japanese aircraft.

10 August 1945:
Removed from Navy List.