 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pana 11 January 1944, mudziyo wacho wakavamba nokuda kwemiitiro yeamphibious kure neMaui. Yakasunungurwa neTF 52 musi wa 23 January nokuda kwekurwiswa kweMarshall Islands. Kubvira pana 1 kusvika 5 February, Ashland yakabatanidzwa mukurwisa Kwajalein Islanduye pane zvimwe zvitsuwa zviduku zvinoverengeka zviri muatoll ine zita rimwe chetero. Musi waFebruary 15, ngarava yacho yakatakura varwi nemidziyo kuRoi-Namur ndokuenderera mberi nekurwisa Eniwetok. Ngarava yakapinda muEniwetok Atoll musi wa17 Kukadzi uye yakashanda sengarava yekugadzirisa kusvika musi wa29 Kukadzi. Musi iwoyo, yakabva yaenda kuPearl Harbor. 