Until April 1943, "Washington" stayed near her base in New Caledonia, providing protection for convoys and battle groups that were supporting the Solomons campaign. Returning to Pearl Harbor, she practiced for battle and underwent an overhaul before returning to the combat zone in late July. From August to the end of October, "Washington" operated out of Efate. She then joined with four battleships and six destroyers as Task Group (TG) 53.2 for exercises; "Enterprise", and also participated. TG 52.2 then voyaged to the Gilbert Islands to add additional firepower to the strikes currently hitting them. Departing in late November, "Washington" first steamed to Makin to provide protection for ships there, then Ocean Island to prepare to bombard Nauru with her sister "North Carolina", all four "South Dakota"-class battleships, and the carriers "Bunker Hill" and . All of the capital ships struck before dawn on 8 December; the aircraft carriers struck again soon after. The ships then sailed back to Efate, arriving on 12 December. On Christmas, "Washington", "North Carolina", and four destroyers left Efate for gunnery practice. By late January, she was made part of TG 50.1 to escort the fast carriers in that group as they launched strikes on Taroa and Kwajalein. She also moved in to hit Kwajalein with her guns on 30 January.