After Yūdachi was disabled by gunfire of the U.S. cruiser-destroyer group, 207 survivors were removed by the Samidare, which then failed to scuttle her with a torpedo. The abandoned hulk was later sunk by gunfire of Portland, southeast of Savo Island at position (09°14′S 159°52′E).
According to James Hornfischer, Yūdachi showed a white flag before Portland fired, but this was deliberately ignored by the American captain, who directed his gunnery officer to "sink the S.O.B."
