Momo (桃, "Peach") was one of 18 Matsu-class escort destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Designed for ease of production, the Matsu class was smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers as the IJN intended them for second-line duties like escorting convoys, releasing the larger ships for missions with the fleet.

[9] Between 25 October and 2 November, together with her sister ships Momi and Ume, she escorted the aircraft carriers Ryūhō and Kaiyō on a transport mission from Sasebo to Keelung, Japanese Taiwan, then returned to Kure.

The division's next task was to escort the hybrid battleship/carriers Hyūga and her sister Ise as they ferried supplies to Manila, Philippines, on 9 November.

[9] On 24 November, Momo and the destroyer Shimotsuki departed Singapore for Manila to support the "TA" resupply missions to Japanese positions in the Philippines.

Their initial attack was ineffective, but the convoy was diverted to the fishing port of San Isidro after it received word that the Americans were landing near their destination.

While attempting to rendezvous with Ume and Sugi that night, the ship suffered minor damage after she accidentally hit a reef off Masabate Island.

[9] After repairs at Cavite Navy Yard, Momo and sub-chaser Ch.60 were assigned to escort the cargo liner Ōryoku Maru[9] carrying 3,511 Japanese military personnel, civilians, and 1,619 Allied prisoners of war.

Shortly after, they were attacked by planes from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet that severely damaged the Ōryoku Maru, which was forced to beach herself in Subic Bay lest she be sunk.

Momo was hit twice by bombs that started a fire amidships, forcing her captain to order her torpedoes be ejected overboard to prevent them from exploding.

On the evening of 15 December, the submarine USS Hawkbill attacked Momo; one torpedo struck the ship in the aft boiler room, which caused her to lose power and sink 140 miles (230 km) west-southwest of the coast of Cape Bolinao, Luzon.