[1] She was damaged by a dud aerial torpedo during an air raid at Rabaul on 5 November 1943, with one dead and nine wounded.

In the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Fujinami escorted the 1st Diversion Attack Force, commanded by Admiral Kurita Takeo.

In the Battle off Samar on 25 October Fujinami was detached to assist Chōkai, then she removed survivors and scuttled the cruiser with a torpedo.

Some US survivors of the escort carrier Gambier Bay have stated that the commanding officer Cmdr.

Tatsuji Matsuzaki restrained his men from firing on them as they floated by Fujinami and was allegedly seen to salute the American sailors.