Following a brief overhaul period at Pearl Harbor, "Sculpin" – commanded by Fred Connaway – departed Hawaii on 5 November 1943. Ordered to patrol north of Truk, she was to intercept and attack Japanese forces leaving Truk to oppose the forthcoming invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. "Sculpin" and two other submarines were to form a wolf pack to make coordinated attacks on the enemy, with either or . Captain John P. Cromwell, who had been fully briefed on the Tarawa operation and was in the picture on , was on board "Sculpin" to coordinate wolf pack operations.