On 11 October, "Aoba" accidentally collided with the cruiser , but the damage was minor. However, on 23 October 1944, "Aoba" was attacked by the submarine . One of six torpedoes hit "Aoba" in the No. 2 engine room. "Aoba" limped into Cavite Navy Yard near Manila, but while under emergency repairs the following day and on 29 October the ship was bombed by carrier-based planes from Task Force 38. Repairs still incomplete, "Aoba" was assigned to a convoy returning to Japan. The convoy was attacked on 6 November off Luzon by the submarines , "Bream", and . Altogether the submarines fired 23 torpedoes, two of which hit the cruiser , but "Aoba" escaped without further damage. On arrival at Kure on 12 December, "Aoba" was examined but declared irreparable, and re-rated as a reserve ship.