Between 18 and 24 October, "Taylor" was a unit of the screen for the second reinforcement echelon for the Leyte invasion. During a Japanese aerial assault on the 24th, the destroyer laid a smoke screen to protect the convoy. That night, as the Battle of Surigao Strait opened, "Taylor" and the other destroyers of her division were anchored near the entrance of San Pedro Bay. Though she did not actually join the surface engagement, "Taylor" joined the support force on the following morning. Following that, she patrolled the vicinity of Dinagat Island with a unit known as the "torpedo attack force". On 27 and 28 October, the warship screened TG 77.4, the escort carrier group. During that duty, she rescued a downed fighter pilot of "Enterprise" (CV-6) and a seaman from "Petrof Bay" (CVE-80). Frequently, she helped fend off Japanese air attacks.