In real life, she was completed in 1943, well over halfway into the war. Fujinami's only major engagement was the battle of Leyte Gulf, where she was part of Kurita's Center Force. During the Battle off Samar, Fujinami rescued the survivors off of, then scuttled Choukai. Two days later, she attempted to rescue the survivors of her sister-ship Hayashimo, but was struck by aerial attacks from the USS Essex, and was lost with all hands, including those from the Choukai.
