Nowaki was a Kagero-class destroyer, built at Maizuru, launched on 17 September 1940 and commissioned on 28 April 1941.
On 25 October 1944 she was in Kurita's screen off Samar. When Chikuma was disabled, Nowaki was sent to stand by her. She was not sunk in the morning fight with the escort carriers.
The next day, 26 October, American cruisers and destroyers caught her while the center force was withdrawing. They sank her. Not credited to one ship.