Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pana 11 January 1944, mudziyo wacho wakavamba nokuda kwedzidzo dzomumvura nepasi pamahombekombe paMaui. Yakasunungurwa neTF 52 musi wa 23 January nokuda kwekurwiswa kweMarshall Islands. Kubvira musi wa1 kusvika musi wa5 February, "Ashland" yakabatanidzwa mukurwisa Kwajalein Island uye pane zvimwe zvitsuwa zviduku zviri muatoll ine zita rimwe chete. Musi waFebruary 15, ngarava yacho yakatakura varwi nemidziyo paRoi-Namur ndokuenderera mberi nekurwisa Eniwetok.
. Ngarava yakapinda muEniwetok Atoll musi wa17 Kukadzi uye yakashanda sengarava yekugadzirisa kusvika musi wa29 Kukadzi. Musi iwoyo, yakabva yaenda kuPearl Harbor.