[4] In general layout, the Shiratsuyu-class vessels closely resembled the Ariake sub-class, or final version of the Hatsuharu class, differing only in the lower and more compact bridge design and the shape and inclination of the funnels.

"NiCrMo" steel, taken from the air chambers of obsolete torpedoes, 3 mm (0.12 in) in thickness, was chosen for the new shields to save weight.

[10] Because of the weight of the extra guns added, one set of reloads for the torpedo tubes was removed, together with the minelaying and minesweeping gear.

[11] After the first six ships of the class started construction, the 'Fourth Fleet Incident' occurred, where a tsunami badly damaged several Japanese warships, including shearing off the bows of the destroyers Hatsuyuki and Yūgiri, which revealed that a number of Japanese warship classes had serious design flaws which made them top-heavy and structurally unstable.

Welding was used as opposed to riveting in construction, increasing the class's structural stability and integrity while reducing unnecessary weight.

Similarly to the Umikaze subclass, her rebuilt forward half was heavily welded to reduce weight and increase structural soundness, the interior was changed to become more efficient, and her new bridge was the most visually-apparent change, having been rebuilt with a unique bridge differing from the rest of her sisterships which more resembled a Yūgumo class destroyer.

Because of this, all ships of the class saw some degree of participation in the second Sino-Japanese war, made up of convoy escorting and patrol duty, and even the occasional shore bombardment, but none saw any major naval battles against enemy warships.

All 10 ships were still afloat by the start of WW2 for Japan, and would immediately take up convoy escorting and patrol duty to assist in the Japanese capture of the Philippines and Dutch East Indies.

At the end of June, Yamakaze became the class's first loss when she was hit by two torpedoes from the submarine USS Nautilus, blew up, and sank with all hands.

Afterwards, it was off the Guadalcanal campaign, which saw the class take part in dozens of troop and supply transport runs and several notable engagements.

During the action, Harusame and Yūdachi engaged the light cruiser USS Atlanta, each scoring hits, before being separated, Harusame played no further role in the battle, while Yūdachi took charge and badly damaged the heavy cruiser USS Portland with a torpedo hit that jammed her rudder and disabled her turret 3.

However, she was later ambushed by the destroyer USS Sterett and disabled by shell hits, being abandoned and left to sink, later finished off by Portland's gunfire in a twist of revenge.

Only Samidare continued into the second battle, during which she fought in the initial action against the American destroyers, but does not appear to have scored any kills.

[22] In February, the Japanese decided to retreat from Guadalcanal, with 20 destroyers, including Kawakaze and Samidare, evacuating over 10,000 troops.

[27][28] One ship of the class, the Shigure, had failed to see action up to this point, but at the start of 1943 she was captained by the experienced Tameichi Hara and underwent several months of training.

In August, Shigure and Kawakaze were enacting a troop transport run when they were ambushed by the destroyer USS Dunlap, Craven, and Maury in what became known as the battle of Vella Gulf.

Due to surviving the entire Solomon Islands campaign without losing a single man in combat or ever being critically damaged, she was heavily publicized in wartime propaganda and Captain Hara was hailed as a war hero, making Shigure crucial to Japanese moral.

The next month while returning to mainland Japan, Shigure assisted by escort vessels sank the submarine USS Growler, and survived into 1945.