On 1 January 1944, Sazanami was reassigned to the IJN 5th Fleet. On 12 January, Sazanami departed Rabaul to join a tanker convoy en route from Palau to Truk. She was torpedoed by USS Albacore (SS-218), sinking 300 nautical miles (560 km) southeast of Yap at position 05°15′N 141°15′ECoordinates: 05°15′N 141°15′E. Of her crew, 153 died; 89 survivors were rescued by her sister ship Akebono.