However, an increasingly challenging logistical situation meant that on 16 November 1942, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto ordered that submarines be made available as transports. Admiral Teruhisa Komatsu, who was commander of the 6th Fleet and thus responsible for submarine operations, responded by ordering the conversion of thirteen submarines as transports. The submarines operated a vital service, transferring supplies and people. "I-5" was one of the submarines converted and reassigned, and a Daihatsu-class landing craft was fitted on 17 March 1943 to enable the faster transfer of personnel and resources in what were termed "ant carrying transport" operations. Nine days after, the submarine started the first of nine supply runs between Lae and Rabaul. Later, the submarine was relocated to supply the garrison in the Aleutian Islands. In between, the submarine also undertook other missions, such as rescuing pilots of Mitsubishi G4M bombers shot down by US forces on 14 and 15 May.