 "Smith" departed on 12 February for Espiritu Santo as screen for the auxiliary ship .The destroyer joined the screen there, and the ships proceeded to Guadalcanal where "Smith" performed antisubmarine patrols until 12 March.She then returned to Espiritu Santo and participated in various patrols and tactical and logistical exercises with TF 10 in the New Caledonia-Coral Sea area until 28 April.