[4] I-176 was subsequently converted to a transport role, with her 120 mm (4.7 in) gun being removed and fittings for a landing craft being added.

[5] She was ordered to Guadalcanal, where she successfully carried out the first submarine resupply operation of the Japanese garrison on the island in December 1942.

In March 1943 I-176 narrowly avoided destruction when she was attacked at Lae, Papua New Guinea by US B-25 Mitchell bombers while unloading supplies.

[8] After several months of repairs in Japan, I-176 returned to Lae, Sio and Finschhafen in New Guinea to carry out a number of successful supply runs between July and October 1943.

A message from I-176 was intercepted which reported that the vessel had "Received direct torpedo hit en route to Truk, no damage".

The following morning, the destroyers found evidence of the destruction of I-176 – fragments of sandalwood and cork and paper marked with Japanese words.