Sazanami (漣, "Ripples")[1] was the nineteenth of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I.

Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.

At the end of April, Sazanami escorted the aircraft carrier Shōhō to Truk, and subsequently joined Admiral Takeo Takagi’s force at the Battle of the Coral Sea.

[8] At the end the battle, she rescued 225 survivors, and returned to Yokosuka via Saipan, and was subsequently based at Ōminato Guard District for patrols of northern waters until mid-July.

On 14 July, Sazanami was reassigned to the Combined Fleet, and escorted the battleship Yamato and aircraft carrier Taiyō at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August.

Sazanami was flagship for Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin during the Battle off Horaniu, where she covered landings of troops on Vella Lavella.