August 1944 was spent at Sydney and on fleet exercises off New Guinea. After a drydock period, "Hutchins" sailed from Humboldt Bay on 12 September to take part in the Morotai landings, a stepping-stone to the Philippines. She bombarded airstrips on 16 September and returned to Seeadler Harbor on 29 September to prepare for the invasion of the Philippines. The large invasion fleet sortied to arrive at Leyte Gulf on 20 October. "Hutchins" provided pre-invasion bombardment and gunfire support, and patrolled the entrance after the initial phases of the assault.