Participating in Operation Mo, during the invasion of Tulagi from 3 to 4 May 1942, "Kikuzuki" was torpedoed while in Tulagi harbor by United States Navy aircraft from the aircraft carrier on 4 May, killing 12 crewmen and injuring 22 others. The submarine chaser "Toshi Maru No.3" towed her to the beach at Gatuvu Island and took off the survivors. "Kikuzuki" then slid back into the water on 5 May 1942 during the next high tide cycle and sank at coordinates . "Kikuzuki" was struck from the Navy List on 25 May 1942.