▁the ▁U . S . ▁East ▁Coast ▁late ▁in ▁June ; ▁and , ▁after ▁sh aked own ▁in ▁Ch es ape ake ▁Bay , ▁she ▁loaded ▁dry ▁stores ▁for ▁fleet ▁issue ▁and ▁depart ed ▁Nor folk , ▁Virginia , ▁ 2 9 ▁July . ▁ ▁Supp lying ▁ships ▁for ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁Ley te ▁▁ ▁She ▁trans ited ▁the ▁Pan ama ▁Canal ▁ 6 ▁August ▁en ▁route ▁to ▁the ▁South ▁Pacific ▁Ocean . ▁Ar riv ing ▁Man us , ▁Admir alt ies , ▁ 1 5 ▁September , ▁she ▁began ▁duty ▁with ▁Service ▁Squadron ▁ 1 0 . ▁Ass igned ▁to ▁T G ▁ 3 0 . 9 , ▁Ph ob os ▁supplied ▁ships ▁during ▁final ▁prepar ations ▁for ▁the ▁imp ending ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Philippines ▁at ▁Ley te . ▁Th ence , ▁with ▁U . S . ▁Marine ▁cas ual ties ▁of ▁the ▁Pal aus ▁emb ark ed , ▁she ▁sa iled ▁to ▁N ou mé a , ▁New ▁C aled onia , ▁between ▁ 2 9 ▁October ▁and ▁ 7 ▁November . ▁▁ ▁After ▁re pl en ishing ▁her ▁holds , ▁Ph ob os ▁depart ed ▁ 1 8 ▁November ▁and ▁during ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁the ▁month ▁she ▁provision ed ▁ships ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁ 7 th ▁Fle et ▁in ▁the ▁New ▁Heb rides ▁and ▁New ▁Guinea . ▁On ▁ 5 ▁December ▁she ▁returned ▁to ▁Man us ▁where ▁she ▁continued ▁issu ing ▁supplies ▁to ▁ships ▁prepar ing ▁for ▁operations ▁at ▁L ing ay en ▁G ulf , ▁Lu