 The torpedo boats stationed there with "Hilo" soon had a chance to fight, as Japanese efforts to reinforce their Lae and Salamaua garrisons led to the Battle of the Bismarck Sea from 2–4 March.The tender remained at Kana Kope until late April, when she began to move up the New Guinea coast to various anchorages.As "Hilo"s torpedo boats continued to take part in the successful New Guinea campaign, "Hilo" herself underwent many air raids and endured extremes of climate and disease before being relieved on 20 October.