After brief service escorting convoys along the east coast and in the Caribbean, "Edwards" sailed from New York on 8 November 1942 to join the Pacific Fleet. She joined Task Force 18 (TF 18) at Nouméa on 4 January 1943, to cover a large troop convoy bound for Guadalcanal. On 29 January, they were attacked by a swarm of Japanese torpedo bombers off Rennell Island. Although most were driven off by the heavy accurate fire of the ships, enough broke through to put two torpedoes into . "Edwards" with four other destroyers was detached to screen the damaged cruiser. On the following day, as the group sailed for Espiritu Santo, attacks continued. The destroyers put up a stout defense, but "Chicago" was torpedoed again and sank. "Edwards" rescued 224 of the 1,049 survivors. One of the other screening destroyers, , was also torpedoed. "Edwards" saw her safely to port before rejoining her task group.