The task force devoted most of the next month to patrol duty in waters in and around the Solomons. On 14 March, "Strong", , , and were detached to shell shore installations on Kolombangara island and targets on Vila Stanmore Plantation on 16 March. The force then resumed patrol duties in the Solomons. On the morning of 5 April, "Strong" made a surface radar contact at a range of . The target was illuminated by her searchlight and assessed to be the Japanese submarine . "Strong" and the destroyer opened fire, claiming three hits. The submarine, settled by the stern and sank. "Strong" dropped two patterns of depth charges and her crew observed debris rising to the surface at .