[2] Construction of the Mutsuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's build up from fiscal 1923 of ships not covered by the Washington Naval Treaty.

Satsuki participated in several “Tokyo Express” troop transport missions throughout the Solomons through the end of May, suffering damage when grounded on a reef southeast of Bougainville on 24 May, forcing a return to Rabaul for repairs.

Satsuki was, however, damaged on 17 July when attacked at Shortlands in an air raid by Allied bombers, forcing a return to Kure Naval Arsenal via Rabaul, Truk, and Yokosuka.

On 4 January 1944 Satsuki was strafed during an air raid at Kavieng, New Ireland, with numerous casualties, including its captain, Lieutenant Commander Tadao Iino.

After escorting several troop convoys from Tateyama, Chiba via Hahajima Ogasawara islands to Palau, Satsuki was reassigned to the Central Pacific Area Fleet.