Second Sino-Japanese War [1937] - with sister ships Uranami, Shikinami & Isonami.
Battle of Malaya [8 December 1941 ~ 31 January 1942] - sank Dutch submarine HNLMS O 20 (with sister ships Uranami & Yugiri)
Invasion of the Netherlands East Indies [14 February 1942 ~ 28 March 1942] - escort for the heavy cruisers Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami & Mikuma.
Indian Ocean Raid [31 March ~ 10 April 1942]
Battle of Midway [4~5 June 1942]
Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal [14~15 November 1942] - assisted in sinking USS Benham, USS Walke & USS Preston and damaging USS Gwin. (with cruiser Sendai & Nagara)
Ayanami was shelled and sunk by USS Washington (also sank battleship Kirishima). survivors were rescued by Uranami.