On May 7, 1943, while off Kolombangara, Kagerou, Oyashio and Kuroshio were struck by several naval mines laid by USN minelayer ex-destroyers, USS Gamble DM-15, USS Breese DM-18 and USS Preble DM-20. Oyashio was the first to suffer an explosion from the naval mines, Kagerou tried to assist Oyashio but she also suffered a blast from the mines which also disabled her, Kuroshio attempted to save the two but was torn apart and sunk afterwards after suffering two to three explosions from the mines and several more in her magazines. Morning of May 8, 1943, Kagerou and Oyashio were attacked by 19 dive-bombers, 3 torpedo-bombers, and 32 fighters from Guadalcanal, the aircraft do more damage on the two crippled destroyers, further attacks were cancelled due to the bad weather. Kagerou and Oyashio continued drifting and flooding for the whole day. Oyashio sunk early evening and 20 minutes later Kagerou sunk, southwest of Rendova Island. Their crew were stranded on shore until they were rescued on May 12, 1943, 152 army and 618 navy personnel were saved including CO. Arimoto Terumichi, Kagerou's commander.
