On the 29th and 30th January 1943 USS Indiana supported the operations on Rennell island. In June 1943 she joined Task group 36.3 during the campaign for new Georgia. operating from Noumea in New Caledonia.  Until returning back to Pearl harbor arriving there on the 9th August 1943.  USS Indiana joined the Task force 58  a large carrier force set with the task top launch an attack on the Marcus islands which took part of the 31st August returning again with the force back to Pearl harbor. where Indiana was dry docked for 16 days.leaving again Pearl harbor on route for the Fiji islands as part of the supporting force for the invasion of the Gilbert islands.  But on the 11th November under the command of Admiral Lee now commander of battleships, Pacific. set sail to join Task group 50.1 under the command of Admiral C A Baldy Pownall. these two task groups proceeded to the Gilbert Islands to bomb the Japanese positions of the Gilbert and Marshall islands. These raids were aimed to clear the way for The US landings on Tarawa and Makin on the Gilbert islands

USS Indiana was attacked by Japanese  torpedo Bombers off Tarawa. This was the first time USS Indiana had been attacked. and during the attack Indiana shoot down one of the Bomber aircraft.  On the 25th November USS  Indiana was assigned tot he fast carrier Task group 50.4  joining the battleships, USS Alabama, USS South Dakota with the carriers USS Bunker Hill and USS Monterey. This task group supported  the operations at Makin This task group came under air attack on the 27th 28th November but with minor damage.  After the campaign on the Gilbert islands USS Indiana joined the newly formed Task group 50.8 on the 6th December 1943. The group was sent to joined task Force 58 for the air strikes against Japanese positions on Taroa and Kwajalein. and  Indiana took part in the shelling of Kwajalein Atoll. on the 30th January 1944. On the 1st February USS Washington collided with Indiana causing serious damage and three crew were killed. Both battleships sailed  to Majuro Lagoon for temporary repairs.  USS Indiana returned back to Pearl Harbor arriving on the 13th to start repairs.  repairs were completed on the 30th |April 1944 and she again rejoined task force 58 for the bombarding of Ponape island on the 1st may 1944. and In June taking part in the Bombarding of the Marianas  on Saipan.

On the 19th June the Japanese launched a massive air attack against the group..  USS Indiana shoot down a torpedo Place which was attacking her. another torpedo Bomber came close toe Indiana, which launched a torpedo before being shot down. The Gunners of the Indiana opened fire on the approaching torpedo and luckily destroyed it 50 metres before it reached the ship.  The only damage to the battleship was a small denting of the ship side platting when an Japanese aircraft hit the side.  A total of 293 Japanese aircraft were lost during these attacks on the task Force. and the attack is often given the name of the " Marianas turkey shoot.".