 On 18 November 1943, north of Truk, "Chōgei" and her escorts were attacked by the American submarine , which was sunk by the destroyer 

"Chōgei" returned to front-line combat status on 1 January 1944 as flagship of Submarine Squadron 11, under the IJN 6th Fleet.In summer, her main guns were replaced with 18 Type 96 25-mm antiaircraft guns.She subsequently made two roundtrips to Okinawa as a transport for supplies and reinforcements in August and September 1944.