 She issued stores to fleet units at Noumea until 5 February 1943, when she sailed to the Fiji Islands and Auckland, New Zealand, ultimately returning to New Caledonia on 7 March.During March 1943, "Antares" took part in the successful salvaging of —which had run aground on Garanhua Reef, off New Caledonia, on the 17th of that month—before being sent to Samoa, and from there to San Francisco, California, where she arrived on 6 May 1943.Following drydocking and general repairs, "Antares" returned to Samoa on 10 June, and proceeded from there to Espiritu Santo, arriving there on 18 June.