Name Translation: "Snow Wind"

Initial Command Structure:
Ship's captain: Commander Tobita Kenjiro [50] (prev. C.O. UMIKAZE). Assigned to Desdiv 16 (YUKIKAZE, TOKITSUKAZE, AMATSUKAZE, HATSUKAZE), Desron 2, Second Fleet. Flagship of Comdesdiv 16, Captain Shibuya Shiro [44].

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

6-8 December:
Departed Palau with Southern Philippine attack forces, initially escorting RYUJO in attack on Davao.

12 December:
With Legaspi invasion force.

24 December:
With Lamon Bay invasion force.

11 January 1942:
With Menado invasion force.

24 January:
With Kendari invasion force.

31 January:
With Ambon invasion force.

20 February:
With Timor invasion force.

27 February:
With Eastern Java invasion force.

27-28 February: Battle of the Java Sea
Took part in torpedo attack on Allied fleet.

March:
Antisubmarine operations in the Java Sea.

29 March-25 April:
Escorted Western New Guinea invasion force out of Ambon for seizure of Sorong, Manokwari and Sarmi/Hollandia, then to Davao.

26 April-2 May:
Steamed from Davao to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

21-25 May:
Steamed with Desron 2 from Kure to Saipan.

3-6 June: Battle of Midway
Escorted Midway troop convoy.

23 June:
Commander Tobita relieved by Commander Sugama Ryokichi [50] (prev. C.O. ISONAMI).

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

11-30 July:
Escorted transport NANKAI MARU from Yokosuka via Formosa to Rabaul.

5-12 August:
Escorted MOGAMI and AKASHI from Truk to Kure.

13-20 August:
Training with HIYO in the Inland Sea.

2-10 September:
Escorted UNYO via Saipan to Truk.

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

12-13 October:
With AMATSUKAZE, 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. Operated with NAGARA; probably engaged USS CUSHING (DD-376) and USS LAFFEY (DD-459), torpedoing the latter. Stood by crippled HIEI during air attacks. Minor damage: in engineering spaces due to near-misses. Removed Admiral Abe, then assisted in rescue of HIEI survivors, returning to Truk on 18 November.

5-10 December:
With HATSUYUKI, escorted HIYO from Truk to Kure, then docked for maintenance.

18-23 January 1943:
Escorted ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO from Kure to Truk; then steamed to Shortlands.

1 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

4 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

7 February:
Troop evacuation run to Guadalcanal.

10-14 February:
Escorted damaged MAIKAZE from Shortlands to Truk, then returned to Rabaul.

18-21 February:
Escorted transport GOKOKU MARU from Rabaul to Gasmata (New Britain) and back.

1-4 March: Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Escorted troop convoy from Rabaul towards Lae. On 2 March assisted ASAGUMO in rescuing survivors from KYOKUSEI MARU and took them to Lae. On 3 March rejoined convoy, then weathered air attacks without damage. Removed crew from crippled TOKITSUKAZE and assisted in rescuing survivors of sunken ships, then carried them via Kavieng to reach Rabaul on 5 March.

7-8 March:
Steamed from Rabaul to Shortlands, then troop transport run to Kolombangara.

13 March:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara.

2 April:
Troop transport run to Rekata.

10 April:
Troop transport run to Finschhafen, aborted due to air attack.

13 April:
Troop transport run to Tuluvu.

13-16 April:
Steamed from Rabaul via Kavieng to Truk.

3-8 May:
With AGANO, YUGUMO and AKIGUMO, escorted ZUIKAKU and ZUIHO from Truk to Kure, then docked for maintenance: twin 25mm machine guns added on bandstand forward of bridge; twin 25mm machine guns at aft funnel replaced by triple mountings; radar-detecting device installed on bridge.

16-21 June:
Escorted task force from Yokosuka to Truk.

23-28 June:
Accompanied NAGARA on troop transport run from Truk to Nauru (26 June) and back.

30 June-5 July:
Escorted CHOKAI from Truk via Rabaul to Shortlands.

9 July:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover).

12 July: Battle of Kolombangara
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover): Led counterattack on U.S. cruiser-destroyer group; contributed torpedoes to spreads that sank USS GWIN (DD-433) and damaged USS HONOLULU (CL-48) and USS ST. LOUIS (CL-49).

19 July:
Troop transport run to Kolombangara (cover). [Note 1]

23 July:
Led troop transport run to Kolombangara.

24 July:
Departed Rabaul for Truk.

28 August-2 September:
With USHIO, escorted KUMANO and TAIYO from Truk to Kure, then docked for repairs: “X” turret removed/replaced by two triple 25mm mounts; Type 22 radar mounted on foremast and Type 13 on mainmast; improved underwater sound detection equipment installed.

8 October-5 November:
Escorted RYUHO from Kure to Singapore and back.

14-23 November:
Escorted IRAKO from Yokosuka to Truk.

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

10 December:
Commander Sugama (to X.O. HARUNA, later Comdesdiv 43) relieved by Lieutenant Commander Terauchi Masamichi [55] (prev. C.O. INAZUMA).

5 January 1944:
Lieutenant Commander Terauchi promoted to Commander.

11-20 January:
With AMATSUKAZE and CHITOSE, escorted high-speed tanker convoy (HI-31: OMUROSAN MARU, TATEKAWA MARU, ITSUKUSHIMA MARU, GENYO MARU, KUROSHIO MARU, HOKUROKU MARU) from Moji to Singapore. On 16 January AMATSUKAZE torpedoed and presumed sunk, but rest of convoy proceeded safely to Singapore.

25 January-4 February:
Escorted CHITOSE and Convoy HI-32 (same ships as HI-31 above) from Singapore to Moji.

20 February-4 March:
With HATSUSHIMO, escorted CHITOSE from Kagoshima to Saipan, then back to Yokosuka.

29 March-7 April:
With YAMAGUMO, escorted ZUIHO from Yokosuka to Guam, then back to Kure.

31 March:
Desdiv 16 deactivated; reassigned to Desdiv 17 (URAKAZE, TANIKAZE, ISOKAZE, HAMAKAZE), Desron 10, Third Fleet.

20 April-1 May:
Escorted YAMATO and MAYA from Kure via Manila to Lingga.

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

22 May:
Minor damage: propeller scraped reef at Tawitawi; top speed reduced to 25 knots.

19-20 June: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Escorted 2nd Supply Force. On 20 June removed crew of crippled SEIYO MARU and scuttled with torpedo.

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

5 July-15 August:
Docked at Kure for repairs.

22 September-4 October:
Escorted FUSO and YAMASHIRO from Kure to Lingga.

18-20 October:
Escorted fleet from Lingga to Brunei.

23-25 October: Battle of Leyte Gulf
Escorted Admiral Kurita's 1st Diversion Attack Force. In Battle off Samar on 25 October took part in torpedo attack on U.S. escort carriers and assisted in sinking of USS JOHNSTON (DD-557).

28 October:
With ISOKAZE, only destroyers to remain with Admiral Kurita's fleet all the way back to Brunei; refueled from HARUNA en route.

9-12 November:
Escorted fleet out of Brunei into Sulu Sea in support of Leyte troop transport operations.

15 November:
Desdiv 17 reassigned to Desron 2, Second Fleet.

16-24 November:
With YAHAGI, Desdiv 17 escorted YAMATO, NAGATO and KONGO from Brunei to Kure. When on 21 November KONGO and URAKAZE were torpedoed and sunk, with YAHAGI maintained escort of YAMATO and NAGATO while HAMAKAZE and ISOKAZE stayed behind to rescue survivors.

25 November:
Escorted NAGATO to Yokosuka.

28-29 November:
Escorted SHINANO from Yokosuka towards Inland Sea, then assisted torpedoed carrier and helped rescue survivors.

29 December:
Departed Moji, escorting troop convoy to Formosa and back.

January-March 1945:
Upkeep and training (including service as target-ship for kaiten crews) in the Inland Sea.

6-7 April:
Escorted YAMATO from Inland Sea on attack mission towards Okinawa. Rescued YAMATO survivors; later removed survivors from ISOKAZE and scuttled with torpedoes. Light damage: in attacks by aircraft of TF 58 due to strafing; three dead and 15 injured.

10 May:
Commander Terauchi relieved by Commander Koeu Keiji [57] (prev. C.O. NUMAKAZE).

17-19 May:
With SAKAWA and HATSUSHIMO, steamed from Kure to Maizuru, then security duty there through end of war.

30 July:
Minor damage: in air attack by TF 38 in Miyatsu Bay, due to strafing; one dead and several wounded.

15 August:
Reassigned to Desdiv 41 (FUYUZUKI, NATSUZUKI, YOIZUKI), Escort Squadron 31, Combined Fleet.

5 October 1945:
Removed from Navy List. Later used as repatriation ship (including postwar return to Rabaul).

19 November 1945:
Commander Koeu demobilized.

6 July 1947:
Turned over to China; renamed TANG YAN; scrapped 1970.

[Note 1] Reinforcement mission of 19-20 July 1943 O.B.: Main Body (Cover) under Comcrudiv 7 Rear Admiral Nishimura Shoji [39]: Crudiv 7 (KUMANO, SUZUYA), CHOKAI; Escort/Torpedo Force under Comdesron 3 Rear Admiral Ijuin Matsuji [43]: SENDAI, Desdiv 16 (YUKIKAZE), HAMAKAZE, KIYONAMI, YUGURE; Transport Force under Comdesdiv 30 Commander Orita Tsuneo [49]: Desdiv 30 (MIKAZUKI, MINAZUKI), MATSUKAZE. Anticipated enemy surface interference never materialized. Transport force succeeded in landing about 300 men and munitions on Kolombangara, but cover forces lost YUGURE and KIYONAMI and suffered damage to KUMANO in U.S. air attacks.