Construction of the large-sized Minekaze-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 8-4 Fleet Program from fiscal 1917-1920, as an accompaniment to the medium-sized Momi class with which they shared many common design characteristics.

[2] Equipped with powerful engines, these vessels were capable of high speeds and were intended as escorts for the projected Amagi-class battlecruisers, which were ultimately never built.

[5] There were no casualties aboard either ship, but both vessels suffered light damage;[5] I-21′s bow was bent 60 degrees to starboard, forcing her to proceed to Yokosuka for repairs.

At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Shiokaze (assigned to Destroyer Division 3 of the IJN 1st Air Fleet) was based at Palau, as part of the escort of the aircraft carrier Ryūjō for "Operation M" (the Japanese invasion of the Philippines).

She suffered minor damage on 31 January 1945 when attacked south of Taiwan attempting to evacuate aircraft crews from Aparri on Luzon, returning to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs.