"samuel b. roberts" conducted training exercises around the hawaiian islands, and then steamed out on 21 august with a convoy that reached eniwetok atoll on 30 august. on 2 september, "roberts" steamed back to pearl harbor, arriving there with a convoy on 10 september. following further training, the destroyer escort got underway on 21 september, escorted a convoy to eniwetok, and arrived on 30 september. "roberts" next proceeded to manus island in the admiralty islands of the southwest pacific, and then joined task unit 77.4.3, nicknamed "taffy 3". from there she steamed to the leyte gulf area off the eastern philippines, and upon arrival, she commenced operations with the northern air support group off the island of samar.