On 7 April 1943 Moa was refuelling from the USS Erskine M. Phelps at Tulagi Harbour  when Japanese aircraft attacked. The Moa sustained two near misses and two direct hits from 500-pound bombs, one that passed through the ship before exploding in the water abeam to starboard, the other passed through the captain's cabin into the Boiler Room where it exploded, effectively breaking the ships back. Moa sank bow first within about four minutes. Five ratings were killed, Kenneth Bailey, Edward Buckeridge, Hugh Crawford, Colin Duncan and John Moffat. All are commemorated on the Devonport Memorial.