Underway for the Marianas on 25 February 1945, "Vestal" arrived at Saipan two days later, to commence what would be over two months of service there, principally repairing amphibious craft used for the Iwo Jima invasion. While "Vestal" lay at anchor at Saipan, the Okinawa invasion commenced on 1 April 1945. Less than a month later, "Vestal" sailed for Kerama Retto, a chain of islands off the southwestern tip of Okinawa, and arrived there on 1 May.