"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.