Minegumo was an Asashio-class destroyer. The name is clouds on the summit. Lieutenant Commander Yasuatsu Suzuki had her by 7 December 1941. On 24 June 1941 a collision had already crushed her bow. She was repaired and went south with the war.
On 27 February 1942 she was in Destroyer Division 9 with Asagumo, under Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura in Naka. She was in the fight with Electra. Japanese records name Asagumo as Electra's opponent. Later accounts add Minegumo. The American narrative and the London Gazette do not name the ship. Minegumo was not sunk. One Japanese account says four of her men were wounded.
Suzuki left her on 25 January 1943. Lieutenant Commander Yoshitake Uesugi took her that day. He had been captain of Ushio.
On the night of 5 March 1943 she ran into Vila with Murasame, then took the short way out, north through Kula Gulf. In the first hour of 6 March, cruiser fire hit her. She was abandoned at about 1:14. Forty-six of her crew were killed, Uesugi among them. One hundred twenty-two swam ashore, and two were later taken prisoner. The sinking is not credited to one cruiser.