on 16 september 1942, "isuzu" and "kinu" were assigned to escort the first wave of transports with lieutenant general masao maruyama's 2nd infantry division from batavia for the solomon islands (rabaul, new britain and shortland island and bougainville). from shortland, "isuzu" was ordered on to truk, in the caroline islands, where it replaced the damaged as flagship of rear admiral raizo tanaka's desron 2's desdivs 15, 24 and 31 (9 destroyers).