As the tempo of the Pacific war increased, "Kimberly" arrived at Manus, Admiralty Islands, to prepare for her roles in the Philippines campaign. On 10 November she departed escorting a supply convoy to Leyte Gulf, carrying material to replenish allied forces there. On the evening of 21 December, while "Kimberly" escorted another convoy to Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, Japanese suicide planes attacked the American ships. During the 2-hour battle, "Kimberly"'s claimed one aircraft and assisted in shooting down two others. After the attack, the convoy proceeded to Mangarin Bay bringing men and material for the construction of an airstrip and a PT-boat base to support the invasion of Luzon.