At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, "Yūdachi" was assigned to Destroyer Division 2 of Destroyer Squadron 2 of the IJN 2nd Fleet together with her sister ships , , and , and had sortied from Mako Guard District as part of the "Operation M" (the invasion of the Philippines). From January 1942, "Yūdachi" participated in operations in the Netherlands East Indies, including the invasions of Tarakan, Balikpapan and eastern Java. During the Battle of the Java Sea, "Yūdachi" engaged a group of Allied destroyers and cruisers. Returning to Subic Bay in the Philippines on 16 March, "Yūdachi" assisted in the blockade of Manila Bay and the invasion of Cebu, returning to Yokosuka for repairs in early May. During the Battle of Midway on 4–6 June, "Yūdachi" was part of the Midway Occupation Force under the overall command of Admiral Nobutake Kondō.