@Revised: August 2021 - Anthony Tully

1 November 1941:
UZUKI arrived at Ebisu Bay, northwest Kyushu. Commenced training there.

7 November:
Arrived at Sasebo.

11 November:
Departed Sasebo.

16 November:
Arrived at Saeki. Departed the next day.

21 November:
Arrived at Sakaide.

23-27 November:
Desdiv 23 escorted troop convoys from Sakaide to Haha-jima.

4-8 December:
Departed Haha-jima, Desdiv 23 (UZUKI, YUZUKI, KIKUTSUKI) with Guam invasion force; then antisubmarine patrolling in that area.

9 December:
Arrived at Matsujima Bay; subsequently supported landings on Guam.

10 December:
Enemy on Guam surrendered. Patrolled outside the bay then proceeded to Kurohama.

13 December:
Desdiv 23 removed from the Guam Invasion Force.

18 December:
Arrived at Saipan in the Mariana Islands. Anti-submarine work there and in the vicinity till the end of the year.

10-12 January 1942:
Desdiv 23 steamed from Saipan to Truk.

23 January:
Desdiv 23 with Kavieng invasion force; then Rabaul-area patrol/escort duties.

9 February:
Desdiv 23 with Gasmata (New Britain) invasion force.

20-23 February:
Desdiv 23 steamed from Kavieng to Truk.

2 March-10 April:
Desdiv 23 escorted Admiral Goto's cover force out of Truk in support of Lae/Salamua, Northern Solomons, and Admiralty Islands invasions.

10 April:
Arrived at Truk. Desdiv 23 reassigned to Desron 6, Fourth Fleet.

29 April:
Departed Truk escorted auxiliary tanker HOYO MARU (8,691 tons) to Rabaul.

2 May:
Arrived at Rabaul.
2300: Departed with HOYO MARU for the Shortlands.

4 May:
0339: Arrived at the Shortland Islands. Departed with HOYO MARU the next day for Rabaul.

5-7 May: Battle of the Coral Sea
Escorted tanker HOYO MARU in the Shortlands-area.

9 May:
1436: Arrived at Rabaul.

10 May:
1630 UZUKI departed Rabaul in support of the "RY" Invasion operation.

11 May:
Arrived at Queen Carola Harbor, Buka Island. Subsequently carried out anti-submarine sweeps in the local area.

13-15 May:
With Ocean-Nauru occupation force; operation suspended due to detection of U.S. carrier force in the area.

19 May:
Action:
0617 UZUKI sighted a periscope and dropped 6 depth charges. She claimed a sinking.
1051: Arrived at Truk.

21 May:
1300: Steamed with YUZUKI from Truk via Saipan to Sasebo.

23 May:
Arrived at Saipan. Departed the next day for Japan.

24 May:
Action:
1130: UZUKI sighted a periscope and dropped depth charges.

25 May:
While still at sea Desdiv 23 deactivated; reassigned to Desdiv 30 (MUTSUKI, YAYOI, MOCHIZUKI), Desron 6, Fourth Fleet. On same date Lieutenant Commander Nishimura (to C.O. ISONAMI) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Takeuchi Hitoshi [58].

28 May:
1100: UZUKI and YUZUKI arrived at Sasebo. Repairs were begun immediately, with the two small destroyers even able to enter the same dock.

8 June:
Left drydock. Carried out more refitting work and minor repairs.

19 June:
0800: Departed Sasebo for Truk via Saipan Island.

23 June:
1007: Arrived at Saipan. Refuelled.
1655: Departed for Truk.

25 June:
1345: Arrived at Truk.

29 June:
1000: Departed Truk. Escorted convoy carrying airfield construction crews from Truk via Bougainville to Guadalcanal. Convoy comprised of YUBARI flagship of RADM Kajioka, UZUKI, OITE, YUZUKI escorting four Marus with SC-21.

6 July:
1327: Convoy arrived off Guadalcanal.
Action:
- 1440 A lone B-17 attacked. Repulsed with gunfire.
- 1907 UZUKI departed area escorting auxiliary transport HOKUROKU MARU (8,359 tons).

8 July:
0745: Arrived at Kieta, eastern Bougainville. Refuelled from auxiliary tanker HOYO MARU (8,691 tons)

10 July:
0825: UZUKI departed Kieta. Escorted HOKUROKU MARU. Same day Desdiv 30 was transferred to the 2nd Escort Division.

11 July:
1447: Arrived at Lunga Roads, Guadalcanal. Patrolled.
1630: Anchored.

12 July:
0400: Departed Lunga Roads. Arrived at Marinda. The next day departed for Rabaul.

14 July:
Desdiv 30 transferred to the 8th Fleet.

15 July:
0810: UZUKI arrived at Rabaul.

17 July:
0854: Five B-17s bomb Rabaul. No damaged received.

20 July:
0425: Departed Rabaul with Buna invasion force.

21 July:
1413: UZUKI separated from convoy and headed for Buna.
Action:
- 1610 Attacked by lone B-17. Repulsed with no damage.
- 1754 Rejoined convoy to escort AYATOSAN MARU (9,788 tons) to Basabua.
- 1900 Arrived at Gona. Maru began to unload.

22 July:
Action:
- 0610 Air attack commenced.
- 0710 AYOTOSAN MARU suffered a direct bomb hit and was set afire.
- 0723 UZUKI arrived to assist. It was necessary to run the Maru aground where it becamse a total loss.
- 1240 UZUKI commenced resuce of the MARU's crew.
- 1323 Departed for Rabaul. In the day's action UZUKI had suffered minor damage from near-misses, but had two killed and fourteen wounded. Expended twenty-three main battery and 488 machine-gun rounds, claiming one aircraft as shot down.

23 July:
Arrived at Rabaul.

27 July:
0355 UZUKI departed Rabaul. Escorted freighter MIYAZAKI MARU (3,948 tons) to Truk.

30 July:
Arrived at Truk. Refuelled. Departed the next day.

6-7 August:
Departed Rabaul, escorting troop convoy to Buna, aborted due to Guadalcanal landings.

11 August:
Departed Rabaul to assist Crudiv 6 with rescue of survivors of KAKO which had been torpedoed and sunk by a submarine .
0710: Took aboard 563 KAKO survivors from Crudiv 6.
1217: Arrived at Kebian, disembarked the survivors there.

12 August:
0257: UZUKI arrived at Rabaul. Departed almost immediately to join a mission to Buna.
0450: Joined a convoy.

12-15 August:
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul to Buna and back.

24-25 August:
Transport run from Rabaul to Guadalcanal: landed food and ammunition at Kokumbona, later rescued ditched RYUJO airmen. Minor damage: in air attack by U.S. Army B-17s due to near-misses.

31 August-3 September:
Escorted convoy from Rabaul to Truk.

6-14 September:
Steamed from Truk via Saipan to Sasebo, then docked for refitting.

14 September-3 December:
At Sasebo for maintenance and refitting as destroyer-transport: stern pared-down toward waterline to facilitate launching and recovery of landing barges. (Only unit of class so altered.)

1 December:
Desdiv 30 deactivated; reassigned directly to Eighth Fleet.

12-18 December:
Escorted CHUYO from Yokosuka to Truk.

19-21 December:
Troop transport run from Truk to Rabaul.

25 December:
1255: Departed Rabaul, escorting transport NANKAI MARU (8,416 tons) to Munda.
Action::
- 1735 NANKAI MARU torpedoed by USS SEADRAGON (SS-) in St.Georges Channel. Able to proceed. UZUKI dropped six depth charges. Claimed the enemy submarine surfaced, and opened fire with main battery, expending 31 rounds.
-1755 While maneuvering in the engagement with the submarine UZUKI cut across the NANKAI MARU's path. A collision resulted, with the MARUs bow striking UZUKI port-side amidships. The No.2 and No.3 boiler rooms were flooded and the destroyer went dead in the water with a heavy list to port.
- 2345 NAGANAMI, URAKAZE, TANIKAZE and ARIAKE which had left Rabaul at 2119 arrived to assist. ARIAKE took in tow for Rabaul while TANIKAZE escorted. URAKAZE took NANKAI MARU in tow in turn.

26 December:
Action:
- 0224 ARIAKE commenced tow. Because the destroyer was buckled and hogging considerably, she had to be towed stern first.
- 0805 Three B-24s attack through heavy overcast. They concentrated on the towing destroyer ARIAKE scoring six near misses that left her afire and flooding amidships. TANIKAZE took over the tow of UZUKI. ARIAKE was able to proceed on her own.
- 1200 URAKAZE, fleet tanker TSURUMI and MS-No.21 arrived.
- 1308-1324 B-17's attacked but no damaged received.
- 2045 Tow was cast off as UZUKI had managed to raise some steam.
- 2330 UZUKI arrived back at Rabaul.

5 January 1943:
Minor damage: in air raid on Rabaul due to near-miss.

16-21 January:
Towed by SUZUKAZE and escorted by TACHIKAZE (both also damaged) from Rabaul to Truk, then docked for temporary repairs from repair ship AKASHI.

26 January-2 April:
Entered the one floating drydock At Truk for more extensive hull repairs.

31 March:
Assigned to reactivated Desdiv 30 (MIKAZUKI, MOCHIZUKI, UZUKI), Desron 3, Eighth Fleet.

25 May:
Lieutenant Commander Takeuchi relieved by Lieutenant (s.g.) Watanabe Yoshiro [61].

20 June-3 July:
Steamed from Truk to Saipan, then with SAZANAMI escorted auxiliary minelayer SHINKO MARU towing bow-less AKIZUKI to Nagasaki; then docked at Sasebo for more repairs.

3 July-9 October:
At Sasebo for maintenance and refitting: included removal of aft torpedo mount and Nos. 2 and 4 main guns in favor of added 13mm and 25mm machine-guns and replacement of single 7.7mm machine-guns abreast bridge by dual 25mm; improved underwater sound detection equipment installed. No.4 boiler was also removed.

12-18 October:
Steamed from Sasebo via Saipan to Truk.

19-21 October:
Escorted troop convoy (1^st section of Operation T4: TAMA and KISO, lifting units of 17th Division from Shanghai) from Truk to Rabaul.
Action:
- 0805 21 October force is attacked by aircraft in the Cape St.George area. KISO was moderately and TAMA lightly damaged, but UZUKI received none.
- 1153 UZUKI and KISO arrived at Rabaul; TAMA had preceded them.

23 October:
1600: With MOCHIZUKI, transport run to Jacquinot Bay (New Britain). They landed approximately 100 soldiers around midnight.

24 October:
Action:
- Midnight: While thus engaged enemy air attacks began. A PBY "Blackcat" flying boat scored a direct bomb hit on MOCHIZUKI amidships. She burst into flames.
- 0116 MOCHIZUKI sank bow first with ten men killed and twenty-three wounded. UZUKI rescued MOCHIZUKI survivors.
- 0125 Completed rescue and aborted the mission, heading with the survivors back to Rabaul.
- 0525 UZUKI rendezvoused with AMAGIRI.
- 0715 They returned to Rabaul.

29-30 October:
With FUMIZUKI, transport run to Garove Island and Iboki.

31 October:
Solo transport run to Buka.

1 November:
Cape Torokina counter-landing, aborted due to heavy enemy presence off Bougainville.

5 November:
Planned Cape Torokina counter-landing again aborted due to enemy air raid on Rabaul.

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

21 November:
Troop transport/evacuation run to Buka. With ONAMI, MAKINAMI, AMAGIRI and YUGIRI, 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 AMAGIRI and YUNAGI, transport run to Garove Island.

29 November:
With YUNAGI, transport run to Garove Island.

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

3-18 December:
Escorted tankers from Rabaul to Palau and back, then to Truk on 24 December. UZUKI scheduled to join the escort of the damaged destroyer NAGANAMI from Truk back to the homeland. However, the departure date had not been fixed.

26 December 1943-10 January 1944:
Escorted tankers from Truk to Palau and back.

15-25 January:
Escorted NAGARA towing NAGANAMI from Truk to Tokuyama, then docked at Sasebo for maintenance.

25 January-3 March:
At Sasebo for maintenance and refitting: single 25mm machine guns (2) added at stern and possibly amidships.

3-19 March:
Escorted troop convoys from Pusan via Yokosuka to Saipan; on 13 March assisted torpedoed TATSUTA and helped NOWAKI rescue survivors.

20-24 March:
Escorted troop convoy from Saipan to Truk.

25-27 March:
Docked at Truk for repairs to bent propeller.

28 March-10 April:
Escorted convoys from Truk via Saipan to Yokosuka.

15 April-6 May:
Escorted convoys from Yokosuka to Guam, Saipan and Palau.

7-30 May:
Escorted convoys out of Palau to Yap, Saipan and Truk.

19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted 2nd Supply Force.

20 June:
Action:
- 1846-1921 Supply Unit attacked by enemy carrier aircraft. At 1814 UZUKI's bridge was strafed and one man was badly wounded. No other damage received. Three attackers believed shot down.
- 1830-1930 Went alongside the burning oiler SEIYO MARU and removed thirty-four survivors.
- 2030 Went alongside the crippled oiler GENYO MARU (tons) and removed the Captain and 161 crew which had scuttled the tanker. The seacocks were opened. Since the oiler did not appear to be sinking fast, it was decided to sink her.
- 2320 UZUKI opened fir with her guns. Hits were scored and GENYO MARU burst into flames and sank.
- 2350 Departed the scene at No.1 battle speed to overtake the Mobile Fleet.

23 June-2 July:
Arrived Guimarras, then escorted tanker convoy to Kure.

2-16 July:
At Kure for maintenance.

16 July-21 August:
Escorted convoys from Kure via Manila to Singapore and back.

18 July:
Desron 3 reassigned directly to Combined Fleet.

20 August:
Desron 3 deactivated; Desdiv 30 reassigned to Escort Squadron 31, Combined Fleet.

21 August-5 September:
At Kure for maintenance and refitting: Type 13 radar mounted on mainmast; twin 13mm machine guns abaft aft funnel removed; twin 13mm between funnels replaced by single 25mm; four additional single 25mm added from abaft aft funnel to stern.

8-19 September:
Departed Moji, escorting Convoy HI-75 towards Singapore; then at 1000 17 September Desdiv 30 detached with AKITSUSHIMA and SAIGON MARU to Manila.

18 September:
1048: SAIGON MARU torpedoed and sunk. UZUKI hunted the submarine.

30 September-15 October:
Arrived at Sasebo with YUZUKI for maintenance.

17 October:
0930: Desdiv 30 (YUZUKI, UZUKI) and KASHIMA ordered by Combined Fleet to rendezvous with Desdiv 41 returning from Bungo Strait to take aboard aviation personnel and materials from the latter and complete the original mission to transport them Formosa. (SUZUTSUKI had been damaged by submarine attack). They then proceed to Kagoshima.

19 October:
Desdiv 30 with KASHIMA departed Kagoshima for Takao on the transport mission.

22 October:
Arrived at Takao and unloaded the cargo and men. Departed back for Sasebo the next day.

26 October:
Returned to Sasebo. KASHIMA detached and proceeded to Kure. Desdiv 30 carried out maintenance work.

30 October:
Departed Sasebo with YUZUKI for Manila via Mako and Brunei. Escorted JUNYO and KISO on special ammunition transport mission to resupply VADM Kurita's 2-YB at Brunei. When west of Okinawa, they are joined by AKIKAZE the next day.

1 November:
1300: Arrived at Mako.

3 November:
Action:
- 2253 AKIKAZE torpedoed in port side by PINTADO (SS-387) while intercepting torpedoes aimed at JUNYO, all ships making 20 knots on due south course. There is a tremendous explosion, and the destroyer is blown in half. For a while, barely the aftermost part of the ship remains, but at 2258, this too, sinks below the waves. JUNYO and KISO turned hard right to course 270 and boost to 22 knots to evade. Though JUNYO ordered YUZUKI to attempt rescue and trap the sub, both fail. She does not sink PINTADO, and finds no survivors---Captain Yamazaki and his entire 204 man crew has gone down with AKIKAZE.
- 0200 YUZUKI abandoned the search.

6 November:
Evening: JUNYO group arrived at Brunei. There joined Kurita's 2-YB.

7 November:
1400: Air-raid alert. A single B-24 overflew Brunei Bay.(Clearly on reconnaissance.)

8 November:
0300: 1-YB departed Brunei for diversionary sortie. JUNYO and Desdiv 30 sail out with them, but are bound for Manila. They are accompanied by TONE carrying MAYA survivors and SHIGURE.

9 November:
Moderate damage in collision with JUNYO. The carrier is undamaged but UZUKI had her mainmast with Type 13 radar ripped off and top speed reduced to 22 knots.
1847: JUNYO, TONE, KISO, Desdiv 30 and SHIGURE arrived at Manila.

10 November:
Desdiv 30 refueled from JUNYO in Manila.

11 November:
1100: Desdiv 30 departed Manila for the homeland via Mako with SHIGURE escorting JUNYO and TONE. KISO remained behind, earmarked to take sunken NACHI's place as flagship of the 5th Fleet.

13 November:
Action:
- 0640 Attacked south of Mako by USS JALLAO (SS-368) which fired six torpedoes at JUNYO but missed.
- Arrived at Mako. Departed next day.

15 November:
- 2323 Task forced attacked by USS BARB (SS-220) which fired five torpedoes at JUNYO but missed.(Submarine mis-identified carrier as KATSURAGI)

16 November:
TONE detached for Maizuru. Task Force arrived at Mutsure-Hesaki.

17 November:
Departed with JUNYO and SHIGURE for Kure.(TONE separated.) Arrived at Kure the same day.

17-23 November:
UZUKI at Kure entered No.3 drydock for maintenance: adjustments made to Type 13 radar. Her mainmast was repaired and re-installed.

20 November:
Escort Squadron 31 reassigned to Fifth Fleet.

24 November:
UZUKI departed Kure and arrived at Moji. Joined there at dusk by division-mate YUZUI.

25 November:
Escort Squadron 31 re-organized.(ISUZU, Desdiv 43, Desdiv 30, Desdiv 53, CD No.21, KASADA, KANJU, MANJU, MIYAKE, and IKUNA)

29 November:
1100: Desdiv 30 (YUZUKI, UZUKI) departed Moji with KAIYO and escorted convoy HI-83 southward. The destroyers are carrying personnel and materials of the 933rd Air Group to Manila.

30 November:
Arrived at Mako.

1 December:
0800: Desdiv 30 departed Mako for Takao having detached from HI-83 convoy. En-route they received new orders: proceed to assist the crippled destroyer HARUKAZE torpedoed early in November by enemy submarine.
1620: Desdiv 30 joined HARUKAZE.
1705: Minelayer ENOSHIMA began to tow HARUKAZE. Desdiv 30 escorted. However the tow parted after about six hours of progress.

2 December:
ENOSHIMA resumed the tow. UZUKI detached and resumed the voyage to Takao. YUZUKI stayed in the vicinity.

3 December:
2115: UZUKI arrived at Anping anchorage where YUZUKI was waiting with the damaged HARUKAZE.

4 December:
Combined Fleet ordered Desdiv 30 to proceed immediately to Manila as favorable opportunity to deliver the 933rd Air Group elements had arose. Desdiv 30 departed on a high-speed run to Manila.

6 December:
0825: Desdiv 30 YUZUKI and UZUKI arrived at Manila. Went alongside No.3 pier and reprovisioned.
1800: Assigned to TA-No.9 operation for transport duty from Manila to Ormoc.
2300: Desdiv 30 departed.

8 December:
UZUKI attacked by a single B-24 bomber while outside Manila. Repulsed it with gunfire. No damage.

9 December:
1420: TA No.9 convoy departed Manila for Ormoc. Desdiv 30 YUZUKI and UZUKI with KIRI, SC-17 and SC-37 escorted MINO MARU (4,667 tons), SORACHI MARU (4,107 tons) , and TASMANIA MARU (4,106 tons) and fast transports No.140 and No.159 and No.9. The operation is under ComDesDiv 30 Captain Sawamura Seiji, flag in YUZUKI.

11 December:
Action:
- 1100 Air-attack. No damage received.
- 1230 Transport No. 9 detached en-route as planned to deliver two midget submarines to Cebu Island, then returned to Manila.
- 1530 TA-9 attacked by aircraft near Palompon, and the TASMANIA MARU has a huge hole blown in her port side and is sunk while MINO MARU is left listing heavily and forced to beach herself on a small islet west of Palompon. But twenty Japanese fighters now arrive to provide cover shooting down one while losing six of their own; nonetheless with their help the last transport, SORACHI MARU was able to proceed in safely to Palompon to offload her cargo. UZUKI's Captain Lt. Watanabe and others were wounded by strafing.
- 1750 Captain Sawamura ordered UZUKI and the two subchasers to rescue the survivors, and with the SORACHI MARU to head for Palompon instead of Ormoc to disembark. UZUKI would also land the Ito Naval Unit and take aboard survivors of TA III waiting there.

12 December:
Action:
- 0100 Attacked by PT-490 and PT-492 while lying to off Palompon. Struck by two torpedoes in the port side under the bridge and amidships.

Sunk::
- Within three minutes UZUKI turned onto her side and sank 50 miles northeast of Cebu (11-03 N, 124-23 E). 170 officers and crew, including Lieutenant Watanabe, killed in action; 59 survivors. Survivors floating on wreckage or swimming then make for the shore. UZUKI's own complement that night was 205; a portion of the DesRon 2 staff and TA III survivors purportedly about 50 were among the lost in the sinking having apparently just boarded the destroyer.[2]
- 0900 Three UZUKI survivors picked up by natives in canoes and made PoWs to the Americans. They confirmed the sinking and said there had been at least 20 or more other survivors with them originally.
- 1510 TA No.9 retiring is attacked by aircraft. YUZUKI and No.159 set afire with KIRI damaged. YUZUKI sank at 2027 and No.159 had to be abandoned. The others returned to Manila.

For details see TA Operations to Leyte, Part 3

10 January 1945:
Removed from Navy List.