@Revised - Allyn Nevitt with Anthony Tully - February 2019

Name Translation: "Gossamer"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Yokoi Minoru [49] (prev. C.O. ASASHIO). Assigned to Desdiv 18 (SHIRANUHI, KAGERO, KASUMI, ARARE), Desron 2, Second Fleet.

18-22 November 1941:
Desdiv 18 steamed with Desron 1 from Saeki to Etorofu (Kuriles).

7 December:
Escorted Admiral Nagumo's carrier striking force for the attack on Pearl Harbor; then arrived in Kure 24 December. Apart from a false contact that was depth charged on 17 December the voyage was without incident.

24 December:
Commander Yokoi relieved (due to illness, died in hospital 7 April 1943) by Commander Arimoto Terumichi [50] (prev. C.O. AKIGUMO).

1 January 1942:
Cruised into Iwaukini Sea area.
6 January 1942:
Carried out plane-guard duties for 1st Air Fleet aircraft carriers during landing-on of their air groups.

8-14 January:
Desdiv 18 escorted carrier force from Japan to Truk.

17 January:
Departed Truk with KdB to support landings in New Guinea area.

20 January:
Desdiv 18 escorted carrier force in air strikes on Rabaul.

21-22 January:
Escorted SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU in air strikes on Lae/Salamua.

23 January:
Escorted SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU covering Rabaul/Kavieng landings, then returned to Truk 29 January.

29 January-3 February:
After arrived at Truk departed against same day. Escorted SHOKAKU from Truk to Yokosuka, then training and defensive patrols in home waters.

7 February:
Arrived at Yokosuka.

9 February:
Departed Yokosuka; returned the next day.

14 February:
Arrived at Mikawa Bay.

22 February:
Departed Mikawa Bay; returned the same day.

24 February:
Departed Mikawa Bay for Yokosuka.

25 February:
Arrived at Uraga. Entered drydock for repairs.

3 March:
Departed drydock; sailed back to Yokosuka.

6 March:
Departed Yokosuka, returned later.

7 March:
With ARARE and AKIGUMO, escorted SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU from Tateyama, Tokyo Bay toward Wake Island to counter enemy carrier activity in the area.

11 March:
Received word the enemy KdB had withdrawn. Reversed course.

16 March:
Force returned to Yokosuka.

17-24 March:
With ARARE and AKIGUMO, escorted Cardiv 5 [SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU] from Yokosuka to Staring Bay (Celebes).

27 March:
Desdiv 18 departed Staring Bay, escorting carrier force in Indian Ocean raids.

4 April:
Action:
- 1904 In position 00-04'N, 86-21'E large enemy flying boat is sighted. KAGERO opened fire with others. A CAP fighter shot the flying boat down.
- 1912 Ceased fire.

5 April:
Air strikes on Colombo.
Action:
- 1025-1045 Large enemy aircraft sighted and taken under fire. Shot down by Zero CAP.
- 1916-1925 Another large enemy aircraft sighted and taken under fire. Again shot down by Zero CAP.

9 April:
Air strikes on Trincomalee.
Action:
- 1009 to 1015 at position 08.28N 88.21E an enemy aircraft was engaged with gunfire, then a friendly Zero fighter shot it down.

23 April:
Arrived in Kure from Southern operations, then docked for repairs.

28 April:
Left drydock. Hereafter carried out training.

5 May:
Shifted to Hashirajima anchorage.

15 May:
Entered the Murozumi Sea; departed the next day for Yokosuka.

17 May:
Arrived at Yokosuka.

19 May:
Departed Yokosuka with ARARE escorting transports.

21-25 May:
Desdiv 18 steamed with Desron 2 from Kure to Saipan.

28 May:
KAGERO and ARARE departed Saipan as part of the escort of Transport Group, Midway Island invasion Force.

3-6 June: Battle of Midway
Desron 2 escorted Midway troop convoy.

7-14 June:
KAGERO and ARARE met the badly damaged heavy cruiser MOGAMI and escorted her safely to Truk.

17-23 June:
Desdiv 18 escorted KUMANO, SUZUYA and NICHIEI MARU (10,020 tons) from Truk to Kure.

25-27 June:
Out of Yokosuka to assist torpedoed tanker TONAN MARU NO. 3 (19,209 tons) attacked in position 28-54'N, 136-54'E, south of Honshu. Arrived at the scene of the attack the next day and carried out anti-submarine sweep. The tanker reached port safely.

29 June:
Departed Yokosuka for anti-submarine work off Nojima-saki.

7 July:
Returned to Yokosuka.

9 July-8 August:
1300: Departed Yokosuka. Escorted transport KIKUKAWA MARU (3,833 tons) carrying emergency repair crews and construction unit from Yokosuka to Kiska. However, the maru developed engine trouble. This and fog east of Hokkaido slowed their progress.

19 July:
1300: Arrived behind schedule at Kiska. Personnel disembarked from maru. Carried out patrol duty.

20 July:
Reassigned to Desdiv 15 (OYASHIO, HAYASHIO, KUROSHIO), Desron 2, Second Fleet.

21 July:
Attacked by enemy aircraft, no damage.

25 July:
Departed Kiska and assisted the torpedoed KASUMI and SHIRNAUHI attacked on 7 July while at anchor outside the harbor.

27 July:
Assisted in the tow of damaged destroyer KASUMI by IKAZUCHI back to Japan.

4 August:
KAGERO and IKAZUCHI arrived with the damaged KASUMI at Katoka Bay, Shimushu Island. KAGERO released.

8 August:
Arrived at Yokosuka.

11 August:
Departed escorting JINTSU from Yokosuka to Truk.

15 August:
1500: Arrived at Truk through North Pass. Joined five other destroyers. Commenced refueling.

16 August:
Departed Truk with ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, TANIKAZE, and HAMAKAZE carrying troops of the vanguard of the Ichiki Detachment, some 916 soldiers, on transport run from Truk to Guadalcanal.

18 August:
2030: Force arrived at Cape Taivu, Guadalcanal. Troops disembarked.

19-23 August:
Patrolled off Guadalcanal (alternating with KAWAKAZE).

23 August:
Bombarded Henderson Field.

24 August:
Joined by MUTSUKI, YAYOI, ISOKAZE and KAWAKAZE, then again bombarded Henderson Field.

25 August: Battle of Eastern Solomons
Joined escort of Guadalcanal troop convoy; removed Comdesron 2 (Rear Admiral Tanaka Raizo) from damaged JINTSU; then to the Shortlands on 26 August.
Action:
- 0002 In position 06-30'N, 159-52'E KAGERO strafed by enemy aircraft, incurring slight damage.
- Desron 2 flag transferred from bomb damaged cruiser JINTSU to KAGERO.

26 August:
Arrived back at the Shortland Islands.

28 August:
Flag of Desron 2 transferred from KAGERO to YUGIRI.

29-30 August:
Escorted TSUGARU out of Shortlands to tow damaged SHIRAKUMO in to port.

31 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

2 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

5 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

8 September:
Attack mission to Guadalcanal.

13 September:
Gunfire support mission to Guadalcanal (Kawaguchi offensive).

16-20 September:
Escorted CHOKAI to Rabaul, then returned to Shortlands.

21 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal. Light damage: strafing aircraft caused waterline damage, flooded bow area.

22 September:
Departed Shortlands for repairs at Truk, then joined fleet patrolling north of the Solomons.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Kurita's Support Force.

3-5 November:
Escorted SUZUYA and MAYA from Truk to Shortlands.

7 November:
Led large troop transport run to Tassafaronga. Comprised of: Desdiv 15 (OYASHIO flagship, HAYASHIO, KAGERO), Desdiv 24 (UMIKAZE, KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desdiv 31 (MAKINAMI, TAKANAMI, NAGANAMI) and Desdiv 10 (YUGUMO, KAZAGUMO).

Action:
- Air attacks damaged NAGANAMI and TAKANAMI, leaving 17 dead. However 1,300 troops are successfully landed at Tassafaronga and Cape Esperance. In addition, 497 ill personnel are repatriated.

13-15 November: Naval Battles for Guadalcanal
Escorted very large Guadalcanal reinforcement troop convoy. For the operation HAYASHIO served as flagship of convoy commander 2 RADM Tanaka Raizo Comdesron 2. Escort comprised of Desdiv 15 (OYASHIO, KAGERO), Desdiv 24 (UMIKAZE, KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), and Desdiv 31 (TAKANAMI, NAGANAMI, MAKINAMI) guarding eleven transports in two units.

15 November:
Learning of the engagement of Kondo's bombardment force with American battleships Tanaka detached Desdiv 15 to rush ahead to join the fight.

Action::
On 15 November joined OYASHIO in torpedo attack on USS WASHINGTON (BB-56).

16 November:
1300: After Allied attacks on Buna, New Guinea, a force built around 8th Fleet flagship heavy cruiser CHOKAI sailed for Rabaul comprised of: CHOKAI, Desdiv 10 (KAZAGUMO, MAKIGUMO, YUGUMO) and Desdiv 15 (OYASHIO, KAGERO).[They were followed later that day by ASASHIO and Desdiv 24 (UMIKAZE, KAWAKAZE)]

17 November:
The units arrived at Rabaul. Upon anchoring, 8th Fleet HQ was shifted to shorebase facilities as planned and CHOKAI departed for Truk. The destroyers remained at Rabaul and immediately embarked troops for transport run to Buna that same day.
2000: KAZAGUMO, MAKIGUMO, YUGUMO, OYASHIO, and KAGERO departed Rabaul for Buna.
2340: Arrived at Buna. Landed about 1,500 men.

18 November:
0230: Offloading completed, departed back for Rabaul.

21 November:
Out of Rabaul with OYASHIO to assist damaged UMIKAZE which was being towed by ASASHIO. (UMIKAZE had been part of a second echelon and damaged around 0740 18 November at Buna during unloading)

26 November:
OYASHIO, KAGERO, KAWAKAZE, and SUZUKAZE loaded supply drums for distribution on a forthcoming transport run to Guadalcanal and departed Rabaul for the Shortlands.

27 November:
Arrived at Buin from Rabaul. The drums are then distributed among eight destroyers.

30 November: Battle of Tassafaronga
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Engaged U.S. cruiser-destroyer group.

3 December:
Second supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Composition: Led by Admiral Tanaka in NAGANAMI. Consisted of Desdiv 15 (OYASHIO, KUROSHIO, KAGERO) Desdiv 31 (NAGANAMI, MAKINAMI), Desdiv 24 (KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desdiv 4 (ARASHI, NOWAKI) and YUGURE attached.
1100: Departed Shortlands.

Action:
- 1320: Sighted enemy aircraft shadowing.
- 1630: Attacked by enemy aircraft. MAKINAMI suffered near-miss damage but all ships proceeded with the mission.
- 2215: Arrived off Tassafaronga and commenced dumping the drums. The process was completed in forty-five minutes.

4 December:
0900: Force returned to Shortlands. (However, because U.S. planes were sent out to strafe and sink the floating drums, only 310 were recovered by Japanese troops).

7 December:
Led third supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Composition: OYASHIO (Flagship of Comdesdiv 15 Captain Sato Torajiro), KUROSHIO, KAGERO, NAGANAMI, Desdiv 24 (KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desdiv 4 (ARASHI, NOWAKI), Desdiv 17 (URAKAZE, TANIKAZE) and ARIAKE.
1100: Departed Shortlands.

Action:
- 1640 Force attacked by thireen SBDs. NOWAKI brought to a halt by near-miss. She had to be detached and towed by NAGANAMI back to Shortland screened by ARIAKE and ARASHI. However, the Japanese shot down the squadron leader. Now reduced to eight destroyers the force resumed its advance.
- 2130-2155 West of Savo Island engaged by enemy PT boats. KUROSHIO claimed sinking one.
- 2230 Plan to drop the supply drums is cancelled, and mission aborted due to enemy surface and air threat.(Comdesdiv 15 made this decision after consulting with Admiral Tanaka also en-route aboard TERUZUKI).

8 December:
Action:
- 0325 The destroyer column is attacked off Kula Gulf from starboard side by USS FLYING FISH (SS-229)[0525 L Time]. The submarine fired four torpedoes and claimed to have sunk one of them. But no damage was received. Probably because most of their cargo is still embarked, instead of counter-attacking and risking being hit, the Japanese turn sharply away to clear the area.
0900: Arrived back at the Shortlands.

11 December:
Fourth supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Composition: TERUZUKI (Flagship of Comdesron 2); Desdiv 4 (ARASHI, NAGANAMI), Desdiv 24 (KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desdiv 15 (OYASHIO, KUROSHIO, KAGERO), Desdiv 17 (TANIKAZE, URAKAZE) and ARIAKE.
1330: Departed Shortlands.

Action:
- 1655 Force attacked by fourteen SBDs. No damaged received, and one enemy SBD shot down.
- 2245 Arrived at Savo Island and just afterward force is attacked by enemy torpedo boats. Fifteen minutes later flagship TERUZUKI hit by torpedo in port quarter and set afire.
- 2315 KAGERO and the other five supply laden destroyers completed the dropping overboard of the supply drums and commenced withdrawal.

12 December:
- 0115 TERUZUKI ordered scuttled after her aft magazines exploded and the destroyer began to sink. In return, Desdiv 24's gunfire sank PT-44.
- 0240 TERUZUKI sank. ARASHI remained to rescue survivors while the rest of the transport squadron left the battlefield.

0930: The force returned to Shortland.(ARASHI followed at 1600) Of the 1,200 drums cast into the sea for the garrison, only 220 of them were recovered by the Japanese Army. (Because the moonlight was getting too bright this would be the last "Rat Express" run to Guadalcanal for 1942)

16 December:
Troop transport run from Rabaul to Munda. Minor damage: to hull in air attack due to near-miss.

21 December:
Troop transport run to Munda.

1 January 1943:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul.

2 January:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Composition: Escort Force (Comdesron 2 RADM Koyanagi Tomiji) NAGANAMI, KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE, MAKINAMI, and ARASHIO covering Transport Force (Comdesdiv 15 Captain Mutaguchi Kakuro) OYASHIO, KUROSHIO, KAGERO, ISONAMI, and INAZUMA.
1100: Departed Shortlands.

Action:
- 1605: Attacked by B-17s and P-38s. SUZUKAZE damaged and sent back to Shortlands guarded by INAZUMA.
- 2200: Transport Force arrived at Cape Esperance and began unloading. Meanwhile Escort Force engaged eight PT boats attacking, and sank one.
- 2230: Unloading completed.

3 January:
0800: Returned to Shortlands.

9-17 January:
Escorted convoy from Shortlands to Truk, then repairs.

31 January-9 February:
Escorted fleet patrolling out of Truk north of the Solomons to cover the Guadalcanal evacuation.

16-21 February:
Escorted JUNYO from Truk to Kure, then docked for repairs.

22-27 March:
With HATSUZUKI, SUZUTSUKI and YUGURE, escorted JUNYO and HIYO from Kure to Truk.

24 April:
1300: OYASHIO, KAGERO, and KUROSHIO departed Truk for Rabaul.

27 April:
0710: Arrived at Rabaul.

28 April:
2000: Desdiv 15 departed Rabaul for Munda via Bougainville.

29 April:
1058: Desdiv 15 arrived at Buin.
1810: Departed Buin.
2320: Arrived off New Georgia. KAGERO swept the area while the cargo and personnel was transferred to 16 Daihatsu barges. At the same time they evacuated 289 excess personnel.

30 April:
0013: Unloading completed, Desdiv 15 departed the Kolombangara area.
0605: Arrived at Buin. The stay was brief - the division got underway again fifty-five minutes later.
1520: Arrived at Buka Island. They wait there, not returning to Rabaul.

3 May:
0430: Desdiv 15 [OYASHIO, KAGERO, KUROSHIO] left Buka Island for Buin.
1130: Arrived a Buin. Ships embarked 350 soldiers and 14 tons of supplies.
1530: Departed Buin for troop transport run to Kolombangara.
2250: Arrived at Kolombangara. Exactly an hour later, they departed, off-loading completed.

4 May:
0505: Returned to Buin. Thirty five minutes later, departed again.
1255: Arrived at Buka Island. OYASHIO then trained in the harbour.

7 May:
Desdiv 15 departed Buka Island.
1131: Desdiv 15 arrived back at Buin. Once again they embarked supplies for another `Tokyo Express' Run. OYASHIO and KAGERO took aboard 220 men of the 13th Infantry Regiment and 18 tons of ammunition between them. KAGERO had guard duty and embarked a smaller cargo and some men of the 8th Composite SNLF.
1520: OYASHIO with KUROSHIO, and KAGERO departed Buin leading transport run for Kolombangara.

8 May:
Led troop transport run to Kolombangara.
0126: Arrived at Vila via passing Kula Gulf and using the eastern approach and and off-loaded cargo and troops.
0312: With some 300 evacuees embarked, Desdiv 15 departed Vila for the return trip in the order of OYASHIO, KUROSHIO, and KAGERO. Unfortunately they chose to go the westward route, through Blackett Strait. The Americans had mined the Straits less than a day before.

Action
- 0359 OYASHIO suffered an underwater explosion aft that caused her to go dead in the water. The engine rooms and aft crew spaces were flooded and navigation and steering made impossible. Believing the flagship had been attacked by submarine or perhaps PT, not realizing the danger KUROSHIO and KAGERO took up guarding positions and dropped a few deterrence depth charges. However, OYASHIO had been mined.
- 0406 KAGERO was shaken by a heavy explosion amidships bearing 317 degrees from Fueauei Island. It was another mine and apparently shattered the bulkhead between boiler rooms No.1 and No.2. Both spaces completely flooded, and all propulsive power was lost. KAGERO made flag hoist to damaged OYASHIO that she was also unnavigable.
- 0506 KUROSHIO struck as at least two possibly three mines and blew apart and sank at once in three pieces.
- 0531 OYASHIO continued to drift and settle and her boiler rooms were now also flooding heavily. Despite this at 0540 her boats were launched to rescue KUROSHIO survivors.
- 0710 OYASHIO drifted onto the reefs on the west side of Anuin Island and grounded there. The crew continued to try to fight the flooding.
- 0917 Fifty enemy aircraft sighted.
- 0952 Attack ended. KAGERO damaged by near-misses.
- 1030 Disembarked casualties and landed them by boat on Fueauei Island accompanied by the medical officer and staff. The Japanese army sent out fourteen barges to assist but worsening seas made work difficult.
- 1430-1530: Second enemy air-raid. KAGERO's engine room flooded by near-misses which opened the hull. With nearly all machinery room and after spaces now flooding, KAGERO began to settle faster.
- 1521 Strafed by three aircraft.
- 1543 Fire in the wheelhouse undere the bridge started.
- 1605 Flames forward spread.
- 1745 Abandon Ship ordered on KAGERO.
- 1755 OYASHIO capsized on her starboard side and sank onto the reef.

Sunk:
- 1817 KAGERO also sank. Position (08-08 S, 156-55 E), some 1,200 meters from Fueauei Island southward of Ferguson Channel. Four enemy aircraft claimed shot down; but one not seen to crash.

9 May:
- 0150 HAGIKAZE and UMIKAZE arrived to assist rescue. KAGERO's whaleboats were found and picked up and details learned from her 1st Lt that others were ashore. Ship lost 18 killed, 36 wounded 11 of them seriously; Commander Arimoto (to Instructor, Torpedo School) among survivors. Apparently KAGERO was sunk by progressive flooding from near-misses alone, no direct hits affirmed.

- For details see The Destruction of DesDiv 15

20 June 1943:
Removed from Navy List.