While "Enterprise" withdrew for repairs, "North Carolina" was transferred to TF 17 to cover "Saratoga", along with "Atlanta" and a pair of destroyers. The ships operated off Guadalcanal for the next several weeks, during which time Japanese submarines attempted to torpedo "North Carolina" twice. The first, on 6 September, passed some off her port side, but the second, from the submarine on 15 September, was far more destructive. "I-19" had fired a spread of six torpedoes at "Wasp" in TF 18, two or three of which hit. Two of the Type 95 torpedoes continued on to the ships of TF 17, some away. One hit the destroyer , and a fourth hit "North Carolina". The hit on "North Carolina" struck the ship below the waterline on her port side and tore a hole in the plating. Five men were killed in the attack, but the torpedo inflicted little serious damage, apart from the shock of the blast that disabled the forward turret. Flooding occurred and "North Carolina" took on a list of 5.5 degrees to port, but this was quickly corrected with counter-flooding and she was able to remain on station with "Saratoga", cruising at a speed of . The other two ships were not so lucky, with "Wasp" being scuttled that evening and "O'Brien" eventually foundering a month later when her hull finally buckled from the damage. After withdrawing from the area, "North Carolina" was detached to Pearl Harbor to make repairs, which lasted from 30 September to 17 November.