[4] The following year, the ship was rebuilt as a destroyer transport able to carry two Daihatsu-class landing craft and accommodate 250 troops.

To make room for these, her stern was cut down to the waterline for a ramp and her aftmost 12 cm gun, the remaining torpedo tubes and the depth charges were removed.

[6] Upon commissioning, the ship was assigned to Yokosuka Naval District as part of Destroyer Division 3 under the IJN 2nd Fleet.

On 11 October 1928, in Uraga Channel, while on night training maneuvers, Shimakaze collided with her sister ship Yūkaze, resulting in significant damage to her port side, and requiring extensive repairs.

From 1938 to 1939, Shimakaze was assigned to patrols of the northern and central China coastlines in support of Japanese combat operations in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

On 12 January 1943, while escorting the fleet oiler Akebono in the Bismarck Archipelago, she was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Guardfish near Kavieng, New Ireland at position 02°51′S 149°43′E / 2.850°S 149.717°E / -2.850; 149.717.