"isuzu" returned to truk on 28 october 1943 and was assigned to escort a convoy of troops for kavieng, new ireland. the convoy was attacked north of kavieng by usaaf 13th air force b-24 liberator bombers, and "isuzu" was damaged by a mine laid by the submarine , suffering hull damage forward disabling two gun mounts. "isuzu" returned to rabaul for repairs and was thus in rabaul harbor during the 5 november 1943 american carrier raid on rabaul. however, the planes from task force 38's aircraft carriers and did little more than strafe "isuzu", which later returned to truk for repairs.