Name Translation: "Young Moon"

31 May 1943:
Completed at Nagasaki; assigned same date to Desron 11, First Fleet, for training. Ship's captain: Commander Suzuki Yasuatsu [49] (prev. C.O. MICHISHIO).

8 June:
At Hashirijima to assist when MUTSU blew up and sank.

15 August:
Departed Kure for Truk.

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

17-26 October:
Escorted fleet from Truk to Eniwetok and back in anticipation of further U.S. carrier raids.

30 October-1 November:
Aircrew transport run from Truk to Rabaul.

2 November: Battle of Empress Augusta Bay
Attack mission to Bougainville; engaged U.S. cruiser-destroyer group.

5 November:
Minor damage: due to near-miss in U.S. air raid on Rabaul.

6 November:
Cape Torokina counter-landing: troop transport run to Bougainville (cover).

11-14 November:
Escorted CHOGEI from Rabaul to Truk.

18-25 November:
Escorted KASHIMA and CHOGEI from Truk to Kure, then to Yokosuka for repairs.

6-13 February 1944:
Escorted SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU from Kure to Singapore.

15-21 March:
Steamed from Lingga to Kure to pick up TAIHO.

28 March-4 April:
Escorted TAIHO from Kure to Lingga.

1 May:
Commander Suzuki promoted to captain.

12-15 May:
Escorted fleet from Lingga to Tawitawi.

6 June:
While escorting a tanker convoy from Tawitawi to Balikpapan, rescued 45 survivors of torpedoed MINAZUKI.

19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted Admiral Ozawa's Force A. Assisted the torpedoed TAIHO and helped rescue survivors; transferred Admiral Ozawa to HAGURO.

8-20 July:
Escorted fleet on troop transport mission from Kure to Okinawa and Manila, then to Lingga.

19 September:
Arrived in Kure with convoy from Lingga.

16 October:
While escorting convoy from Oita to Formosa, assisted torpedoed SUZUTSUKI, then escorted to Kure.

25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Escorted Admiral Ozawa's Northern Force in Battle off Cape Engano. Assisted KUWA in rescue of ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO survivors.

29 October-1 November:
Escorted OYODO from Japan to Manila.

8-11 November:
Escorted troop convoy TA No. 4 from Manila to Ormoc. On 10 November joined the escort of troop convoy TA No. 3 as it approached Ormoc. Sunk: by aircraft of TF 38 in Ormoc Bay, west of Leyte (10-50 N, 124-35 E). Blew up with heavy loss of life. Number of survivors uncertain (131 total from SHIMAKAZE and WAKATSUKI); Captain Suzuki killed in action.

10 January 1945:
Removed from Navy List.

[1] Editorial Note - My research into the Ormoc Bay action shows that Japanese records disclose that the air attack began around 1045, with all the transports and four destroyers sustaining mounting damage. By 1130 the Wakatsuki had been brought to a halt by multiple bomb and torpedo hits and was furiously afire, listing to starboard and forward section awash. At 1140 she was observed by the aviators to violently explode and sink, possibly due to the fire forward and amidships reaching her torpedoes. - (Tully)