 Sailing between New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, the Fijis, and Pearl Harbor, she spent the next seven months refueling combat ships and convoys engaged in the bitter, protracted struggle for the Solomon Islands.She departed Nouméa on 18 April 1943 and arrived San Pedro on 3 May for a six-week overhaul before returning to the South Pacific on 19 June.Reaching Nouméa on 8 July, she resumed refueling, cargo, and passenger runs, serving the 3rd Fleet between the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands.