On 14 July, "Sazanami" was reassigned to the Combined Fleet, and escorted the battleship and aircraft carrier at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August. Throughout the month of September, "Sazanami" was assigned to numerous "Tokyo Express" transport missions to various locations in the Solomon Islands. In early October, "Sazanami" escorted the damaged "Taiyō" to Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs, and went into dry dock at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal herself. She returned to active duty as escort for "Taiyō" on 1 November, and continued to escort "Taiyō" and from October to February 1943. Through the rest of 1943, "Sazanami" continued to serve as an escort for "Unyō", and "Taiyō" between Yokosuka and Truk and Kavieng through August. "Sazanami" was flagship for Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin during the Battle off Horaniu, where she covered landings of troops on Vella Lavella. After helping evacuate surviving Japanese forces from Rekata at the end of the month, "Sazanami" resumed her former role as escort to various aircraft carriers through the end of the year.