On 12 March 1944, Tatsuta departed Kisarazu, Chiba with a major reinforcement convoy to Saipan. On 13 March 1944 the convoy was attacked by the submarine USS Sand Lance, on her first war patrol, 40 miles (64 km) NNE of Hachijōjima (32°52′N 139°12′E). One or two torpedoes hit Tatsuta, on her starboard side. Twenty-six crewmen were killed and ten injured, and she sank after her crew attempted to control the damage for several hours. The destroyers Nowaki and Uzuki rescued the survivors including Captain Torii and Rear Admiral Takama. The freighter Kokuyo Maru (4667 GRT) was also sunk in the same attack