and the submarine sank rapidly by the stern. Though absolute confirmation of a kill was never received, all evidence strongly indicated that the submarine had indeed sunk. 1943 Following a liberty and recreation excursion to Brisbane, Australia, and six days in drydock at Sydney, Australia, Southard returned to patrol and convoy duty in early January 1943. On 20 March 1943, she stood out of Nouméa in company with the destroyers and and the fleet tug , which was towing the destroyer . This task unit stopped at Suva Harbor in Fiji on 25 March 1943 and departed the next day to continue on to Pago Pago, Pearl Harbor, and ultimately San Francisco. Southard entered the Mare Island Navy Yard on 19 April 1943 and remained there until 8 June 1943. By 15 June 1943, she was in Pearl Harbor again, and on 24 June 1943 she headed back toward the South Pacific. She reached Dumbéa Bay, New Caledonia, on 6 July 1943. Her return to the Southwest Pacific meant a resumption of patrol and convoy escort duty to support the continuing Solomon Islands campaign. which by this time had progressed farther north. On 30 October 1943, she joined a convoy off Tetere Point, Guadalcanal, and steamed for Bougainville. The convoy arrived off Cape Torokina on 31 October 1943, and Southard joined other elements of the fleet in bombarding Bougainville. On 1 November 1943, U.S. troops landed on the island, beginning the Bougainville campaign. After minesweeping operations in Empress Augusta Bay, she made for Florida Island, entering Purvis Bay on 3 November 1943. On 7 November 1943, she returned to Bougainville to investigate the shoals along the approaches to Empress Augusta Bay. Then she resumed patrols off Guadalcanal. These patrols and cruises with convoys occupied Southards time until 21 November 1943, when she passed through Lengo Channel bound for Nouméa. From 25 November to 16 December 1943, Southard stayed in the vicinity of New Caledonia, participating in drills and screening ships coming into and out of Nouméa. On 17 December 1943, she entered Suva Harbor with a convoy. On 19 December 1943, she got underway for Guadalcanal. 1944 Upon her return to the Solomons, she took up the familiar routine of patrols and screening supply ships. On 22 January 1944, while she en route from Florida Island to Espiritu Santo escorting the oiler , a Japanese submarine torpedoed the Cache. Cache