On 11 January 1944, after departing from Penang with the destroyer on anti-submarine warfare exercises, "Kuma" was sighted by Royal Navy submarine based out of Trincomalee, Ceylon. Approximately northwest of Penang, "Tally-Ho" fired a seven-torpedo salvo from . "Kuma"s lookouts spotted the torpedoes' wakes, and although the rudder was sent hard over, "Kuma" was hit starboard aft by two torpedoes, setting the ship on fire. "Kuma" sank by the stern in the vicinity of detonating her own depth charges. "Uranami" took on survivors, including Captain Sugino, but 138 crewmen perished with the ship.