The name is the young moon. Wakatsuki was an Akizuki-class destroyer, built with a heavy anti-aircraft battery to screen the fleet. Mitsubishi at Nagasaki laid her down on 9 March 1942, launched her on 24 November 1942, and commissioned her on 31 May 1943.
On the night of 1–2 November 1943 she was with the light cruiser Agano off Empress Augusta Bay, and with Naganami and Hatsukaze. Rear Admiral Morikazu Osugi's flag was in Agano. Wakatsuki was not sunk.
Hatsukaze lost her bow when Myoko collided with her. American destroyers finished Hatsukaze. That sinking is not credited to one ship, and it is not credited to Wakatsuki. The American cruisers sank Sendai. That fire is not credited to one of them.
Carrier aircraft sank her in Ormoc Bay on 11 November 1944. Not one plane is credited. Naganami was lost in that bay the same day. Wakatsuki was struck on 10 January 1945.