 A day later she was involved in the rescue of 73 crew from the Filipino merchant vessel , following attacks by Japanese dive bombers.During the rescue, the Japanese attacked "Warrnambool" but she received only minor damage.Over the next 12 months "Warrnambool" was involved in five evacuations or rescues (including that of HMAS "Voyager"’s crew following the destroyer running aground in September 1942), present for eighteen Japanese air raids, and transported over 4,000 troops to New Guinea.