Repaired and refitted at the facilities in Pearl Harbor, "North Carolina" operated as a carrier escort for "Enterprise" and "Saratoga" for the remainder of 1942 and the majority of 1943 while they provided cover for supply and troop movements in the Solomons. In between, she received advanced fire control and radar gear in March, April and September 1943 at Pearl Harbor. In November, "North Carolina" escorted "Enterprise" while the carrier launched strikes upon Makin, Tarawa and Abemama. On 1–8 December she bombarded Nauru before returning to carrier screening; she accompanied while that carrier launched attacks on Kavieng and New Ireland.