Returning to Espiritu Santo in October 1943, "Dyson" with the other ships of famed Destroyer Squadron 23 (DesRon 23) sailed to cover the landings at Cape Torokina, Bougainville, and on 1 November made an attack on airfields in the Buka-Monis area and the Shortland Islands to deny their use by the Japanese to attack the Allied landings. That night in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, TF 39 intercepted and turned back a Japanese force sailing to attack the transports in the bay. The torpedo attacks and gunfire of "Dyson" and the other destroyers were a significant factor in sinking a Japanese cruiser and destroyer, and damaging four other enemy ships.