TF 38 sortied on 30 December, for what would evolve into the South China Sea raid (designated Operation Gratitude). Cruising in the seas south of Formosa and north of Luzon, Philippines, "Wilkes-Barre" contributed to screening cover of the carriers while the carrier planes hit targets on Formosa and Luzon during 3–9 January, to neutralize the danger of air attack on the invasion of Luzon. On 12 January, "Wilkes-Barre" and CruDiv 17 were reassigned as TG 34.5, to deal with enemy warships reported off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina. However, search planes from the cruisers found no trace of the enemy and CruDiv 17 rejoined TF 38.