4 3 , ▁S az an ami ▁continued ▁to ▁serve ▁as ▁an ▁esc ort ▁for ▁Un y ō , ▁and ▁Tai y ō ▁between ▁Y ok os uka ▁and ▁Tru k ▁and ▁K av ien g ▁through ▁August . ▁S az an ami ▁was ▁flags hip ▁for ▁R ear ▁Admir al ▁M ats u ji ▁I ju in ▁during ▁the ▁Battle ▁off ▁Hor aniu , ▁where ▁she ▁covered ▁land ings ▁of ▁troops ▁on ▁V ella ▁Lav ella . ▁After ▁helping ▁ev acu ate ▁surv iving ▁Japanese ▁forces ▁from ▁Re k ata ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁month , ▁S az an ami ▁res umed ▁her ▁former ▁role ▁as ▁esc ort ▁to ▁various ▁aircraft ▁carri ers ▁through ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁year . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁S az an ami ▁was ▁re ass igned ▁to ▁the ▁I J N ▁ 5 th ▁Fle et . ▁On ▁ 1 2 ▁January , ▁S az an ami ▁depart ed ▁R aba ul ▁to ▁join ▁a ▁tank er ▁con voy ▁en ▁route ▁from ▁Pal au ▁to ▁Tru k . ▁She ▁was ▁tor ped o ed ▁by ▁the ▁sub marine ▁, ▁s inking ▁ ▁sout heast ▁of ▁Y ap ▁at ▁position ▁. ▁Of ▁her ▁crew , ▁ 1 5 3 ▁died ; ▁ 8 9 ▁surv iv ors ▁were ▁res cu ed ▁by ▁her ▁sister ▁ship ▁. ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 0 ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁S az an ami ▁was ▁removed ▁from ▁the ▁n avy ▁list