 She next sailed to New Caledonia, via the New Hebrides, and reached Nouméa on 26 March.On 3 May, "Saint Croix" sailed for the Philippines with Army troops that she landed near Tarragona, Leyte, on 16 May for mop-up operations.She then made three trips to New Guinea to bring more troops, debarking at Manila on 17 June, and at San Fernando on 14 July and 8 August.