After refit in Yokosuka during which two additional twin-mount Type-96 AA guns (bringing its total to 16 barrels), "Maya" accompanied "Chōkai" back to Truk, arriving in late September, and started shuttling troops and supplies between Truk and Rabaul. ON 5 November, "Maya" was attacked by SBD Dauntless dive bombers from the carrier during the Carrier Raid on Rabaul. A bomb hit the aircraft deck portside above the No. 3 engine room and started a major fire. Seventy crewmen were killed. Emergency repairs were made at Rabaul, and "Maya" returned to Yokosuka at the end of 1943. During this repair, a major change was made in "Maya"’s armaments, transforming her into an anti-aircraft cruiser, with her No.3 turret and aircraft hangar removed, and replaced by thirteen triple mount and nine single mount Type 96 AA guns, and six twin-mount 127-mm guns, as well as 36 Type 93 machine guns. Her twin torpedo launchers were upgraded to quadruple launchers, and a Type 22 surface-search radar was installed. The overhaul was completed on 9 April.