The name is the Sendai River in southern Kyushu. Sendai was the lead ship of her class, built to lead destroyers. Mitsubishi laid her down on 16 February 1922, launched her on 30 October 1923, and commissioned her on 29 April 1924.
On the night of 14–15 November 1942 she was ahead of Vice Admiral Kondo's battleships off Guadalcanal, with the destroyers Ayanami, Shikinami, and Uranami. Kirishima hit South Dakota with 14-inch shells. Atago, Takao, Nagara, and Sendai hit South Dakota as well. South Dakota took more than two dozen shells and was not sunk. She did not sink Kirishima. Washington did. Sendai was not sunk that night.
On the night of 1–2 November 1943 Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin's flag was in her off Empress Augusta Bay. Captain Kiichiro Shoji had the ship. Shigure, Samidare, and Shiratsuyu were with her. Merrill's cruisers sank her: Montpelier, Cleveland, Columbia, and Denver. Merrill's flag was in Montpelier. The fire is not credited to one of them. Ijuin was among the men saved.
The usual account is that a torpedo from her spread hit Foote and wrecked Foote's steering. Foote was not sunk. Shigure was not hit. Samidare and Shiratsuyu collided with each other and left, damaged. She was struck on 5 January 1944.