After voyage repairs at Pearl Harbor, she departed 30 August as part of the screen for Admiral William F. Halsey's flagship, "New Jersey" (BB-62). "Hunt" joined the "Bunker Hill" Carrier Group off the Admiralty Islands 6 September for operations south of the Palau Islands. On 11 September she carried Admiral Halsey from "New Jersey" to carrier "Lexington" (CV-16) for a conference and returned him to his flagship. In the following days she guarded the carriers which were repeatedly raiding the Palaus to soften them up for the invasion. When marines landed on Peleliu 15 September, planes from these carriers supported the efforts on shore until the determined leathernecks finally stamped out the last organized resistance of the dogged Japanese defenders. "Hunt" entered Kossol Passage 30 September to embark Admiral Halsey and his staff for passage to Peleliu. "Hunt" put him ashore that afternoon and steamed off shore as stand-by flagship until the following afternoon when he again came on board to be returned to Kossol Passage.