On 23 March, "Tama" departed Paramushiro towards Attu with Vice Admiral Hosogaya's IJN Fifth Fleet cruisers and , light cruiser and destroyers , , , and escorting a three-ship reinforcement carrying troops and supplies for the garrison on Attu. At the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March, against USN Task Group 16.6 with the light cruiser , heavy cruiser and four destroyers, in a four-hour running gun and torpedo battle, "Salt Lake City" and destroyer were damaged by gunfire. The other destroyers were not damaged. During the battle, "Tama" fired 136 shells and four torpedoes, and received two hits in return, which damaged her catapult and wounding one crewman, however "Nachi" was hit several times; and the Japanese aborted the resupply mission, returning to Paramushiro on 28 March. Disgraced by retreating from an inferior force, Hosogaya was relieved of command and forced to retire. Vice Admiral Shiro Kawase assumed command of the Fifth Fleet.