 "Steele" made a logistics stop at Manus from 9 to 13 October and sallied with the group for the Philippine Islands.As the fast carriers launched strikes against Leyte, Luzon, and Formosa, the aircraft from "Hoggatt Bay" protected the refueling operations.On the 20th, "Steele" and her group rendezvoused with and , which had been hit off Formosa while serving with the 3rd Fleet.