Name Translation: "River Wind"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Lieutenant Commander Wakabayashi Kazuo [51]. Assigned to Desdiv 24 (UMIKAZE, YAMAKAZE, KAWAKAZE, SUZUKAZE), Desron 4, Second Fleet.

26 November-1 December 1941:
Desdiv 24 steamed with Desron 2 from Terashima Strait to Palau.

6-12 December:
Desdiv 24 departed Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces, then with Legaspi invasion force.

24 December:
Desdiv 24 with Lamon Bay invasion force.

12 January 1942:
Desdiv 24 with Tarakan invasion force.

23 January:
With Balikpapan invasion force.

8 February:
With Makassar invasion force.

27 February:
With Eastern Java invasion force.

27 February: Battle of the Java Sea
In surface action with Allied cruiser-destroyer force.

1 March:
Assisted in sinking of HMS EXETER, HMS ENCOUNTER and USS POPE (DD-225); rescued 35 British survivors.

8-14 March:
Escorted convoy from Staring Bay (Celebes) to Singapore.

April:
Arrived in Lingayen Gulf from Singapore on 5 April, then assisted in operations to secure the Philippines, including the occupation of Panay and Negros.

10 April:
Desdiv 24 reassigned to Desron 1, First Fleet.

15 April:
Lieutenant Commander Wakabayashi promoted to Commander.

28 April-1 May:
Steamed from Panay to Sasebo, then docked for repairs.

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

14 July:
Desdiv 24 reassigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet.

11-17 August:
Escorted CHITOSE from Yokosuka to Truk, then joined Guadalcanal troop convoy on 18 August.

21-23 August:
Patrolled off Guadalcanal (alternating with KAGERO). On 22 August torpedoed and irreparably damaged USS BLUE (DD-387). One injured in strafing by U.S. aircraft during withdrawal.

24 August:
Departed Shortlands with MUTSUKI, YAYOI, and ISOKAZE, then joined KAGERO in bombardment of Henderson Field.

25 August: Battle of Eastern Solomons
Rejoined escort of Guadalcanal troop convoy; then to the Shortlands on 26 August.

27 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted.

28 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted.

29 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

31 August:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

4-5 September:
Escorted troop-carrying barges from Santa Isabel to Guadalcanal.

7 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

11 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

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

15 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

18 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to enemy presence off island.

24 September:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to air attack.

26-28 September:
Steamed from Shortlands to Truk.

13-14 October:
Escorted KONGO and HARUNA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

15-16 October:
Escorted MYOKO and MAYA in bombardment of Henderson Field.

26 October: Battle of Santa Cruz
Escorted Admiral Kondo's Advance Force.

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

7 November:
Troop transport run to Guadalcanal.

13-15 November: Naval Battles for Guadalcanal
Escorted Guadalcanal troop convoy. On 14 November rescued 550 survivors from sunken transport BRISBANE MARU.

16-17 November:
Steamed from Shortlands to Rabaul.

18 November:
Troop transport run to Buna.

27 November:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul.

28 November:
Commander Wakabayashi (to Flag Secretary, Naval General Staff) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Yanase Yoshio [55] (prev. C.O. OITE).

30 November: Battle of Tassafaronga
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Engaged U.S. cruiser-destroyer group. Possibly torpedoed USS PENSACOLA (CA-24).

3 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal.

7 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal, aborted due to PT-boat attack.

11 December:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal (cover). Assisted SUZUKAZE in sinking of PT-44.

14 December:
Arrived Rabaul from Shortlands.

19-23 December:
With ARIAKE, escorted transport KOZAN MARU (lifting 1,300 troops and munitions) from Rabaul via Shortlands to Munda.

1-2 January 1943:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul, then supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal (cover).

10 January:
Supply-drum transport run to Guadalcanal. Escorted damaged HATSUKAZE back to Shortlands; then to Rabaul on 14 January.

16-23 January:
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul via Shortlands to Kolombangara and back.

27-28 January:
Arrived Shortlands from Rabaul, then troop transport run to Russell Islands.

1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal (cover). Has been credited with sinking PT-111.

4 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal (cover). Removed Comdesron 3 (Rear Admiral Hashimoto Sentaro [41]) from temporarily-disabled SHIRAYUKI.

7-8 February:
Out of Shortlands to assist damaged ISOKAZE.

9-10 February:
Departed Shortlands, escorting convoy. Heavily damaged: in collision with cargo ship TOUN MARU, then back to Shortlands.

11-13 February:
Towed/assisted by KUROSHIO from Shortlands to Rabaul, then emergency repairs.

2-6 March:
Escorted convoy from Rabaul to Truk, then more repairs.

21-26 March:
Escorted KATORI from Truk to Yokosuka, then docked at Sasebo for repairs.

27 May-3 June:
Escorted convoy from Sasebo to Truk.

5-10 June:
Troop transport run from Truk via Ponape to Nauru and back.

14-19 June:
Accompanied JINTSU on aircrew transport run from Truk to Kwajalein and back.

30 June:
Minor damage: during sortie towards Rabaul, clipped reef at Truk; sortie aborted for repairs.

1 August:
Transport run from Rabaul to Tuluvu.

6-7 August: Battle of Vella Gulf
Troop transport run to Kolombangara. Sunk: by gunfire and torpedoes of USS DUNLAP (DD-384), USS CRAVEN (DD-382) and USS MAURY (DD-401), between Kolombangara and Vella Lavella (07-50 S, 156-54 E). 169 killed, including Lieutenant Commander Yanase. Number of survivors unknown (310 total from ARASHI, HAGIKAZE, KAWAKAZE and 900 troops) but included four captured by Americans.

15 October 1943:
Removed from Navy List.