on 1 april 1943, with repairs and modification yet incomplete, "isuzu" was assigned to rear admiral kenzo ito's new crudiv 14 with "naka". "isuzu" was finally able to depart yokosuka on 21 may 1943, returning to truk with supplies and troop reinforcements on 21 june 1943. she was then assigned to ferry troops for the occupation of nauru on 25 june 1943. "isuzu" continued to be based out of truk to 15 october 1943, when it was recalled to tokushima and (together with "naka") reassigned to ferry troops to shanghai. on 23 october 1943 "isuzu" was attacked in the east china sea by the submarine , which fired ten torpedoes, but failed to hit either "isuzu" or "naka".