Returning to Kure Naval Arsenal on 6 June, "Kumano" was fitted with a Type 21 radar and her dual 13-mm machine guns were replaced by two triple-mount Type 96 anti-aircraft guns. She returned to Rabaul on 25 June with another cargo of troops and supplies. On 18 July, "Kumano" was escorting a Tokyo Express high speed transport mission with "Chōkai" and , but was attacked off of Kolombangara by USMC Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers from Guadalcanal. The attack damaged "Kumano"’s aft hull, and she underwent emergency repairs at Rabaul by the repair ship "Yamabiko Maru" and at Truk by the repair ship , but finally had to be withdrawn back to Kure from 2 September to 3 November for proper repairs. She was based out of Truk through the end of the year, at Palau in January and February 1944, and in Singapore from March through mid-May. At Singapore, an additional eight single-mount Type 96 guns were added. From late May through June, "Kumano" was based at Tawi-Tawi. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944 she was attacked by aircraft from the aircraft carriers , , and . During this action, the carrier was sunk and the battleship was badly damaged. "Kumano" returned to Kure on 25 June, and additional Type 13 and Type 22 radars were installed, as were more Type 96 AA guns. She departed on 8 July with reinforcements and supplies for Singapore, arriving 16 July.