[2] At the end of March 1943, with her sister ships I-177 and I-178, I-180 departed from Truk to patrol off the east coast of Australia.

[2] In mid-July 1943 I-180 was diverted from her patrol to Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands, arriving in the aftermath of the battle and rescuing 21 survivors from the light cruiser Jintsu.

[2] On 12 October 1943, the Allies launched an air offensive against Rabaul, with 349 aircraft attacking the port and airfields.

[3] Late on 25 April, she was detected while surfaced by the destroyer escort USS Gilmore southwest of Chirikof Island.

The submarine promptly crash dived, and over the next three hours Gilmore laid down three barrages of Mark 10 "Hedgehog" anti-submarine mortar shells without result, and then two patterns of depth charges, before finally seeing a heavy underwater explosion at 01:12 on 26 April[2] at 55°9′57″N 155°40′0″W / 55.16583°N 155.66667°W / 55.16583; -155.66667.