Designed for ease of production, the Matsu class was smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers as the IJN intended them for second-line duties like escorting convoys, releasing the larger ships for missions with the fleet.

From 25 October to 2 November, Hinoki escorted the aircraft carriers Ryūhō and Kaiyō as they ferried supplies from Sasebo, Japan, to Keelung, Japanese Taiwan.

Hinoki damaged the submarine with depth charges and was briefly diverted to Takao, Taiwan, before proceeding to Manila on 22–24 December.

On 31 December Hinoki and her sister Momi helped to escort the ex-Italian reefer ship Ikutagawa Maru from Cape St. Jacques to Manila, arriving on 4 January 1945.

[9] The following day the trio attempted to leave Manila for Indochina despite the presence of a nearby Allied convoy headed towards Lingayen Gulf.

Bennion replied a minute later and Gascoyne opened fire at 16:03, but it fell about a nautical mile short of the Japanese ships.

Their attack sank Momi and they moderately damaged Hinoki with a torpedo hit, killing 21 and wounding 45 crewmen.

[9][10] After emergency repairs were completed on 7 January, the ship attempted to depart Manila again, this time several hours after dark.

An hour later, the radar was still picking up the Japanese ship and he ordered a speed increase to 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) in an attempt to close and identify the blip.

The Charles Ausburne went to rapid fire while closing the range to 1,100 yards (1,000 m) and sank the Japanese ship twenty minutes later at coordinates 14°30′N 119°30′E / 14.500°N 119.500°E / 14.500; 119.500 with the loss of all hands.