Sakishima Islands
On 28 February, the BPF sailed for their forward base at Manus Island and arrived on 7 March and exercised together before sailing for Ulithi on 18 March. The BPF joined the American Fifth Fleet there two days later to participate in the preliminary operations for the invasion of Okinawa. The British role during the operation was to neutralise airfields on the Sakishima Islands, between Okinawa and Formosa, beginning on 26 March. They later attacked airfields in Formosa before returning to the Sakishima Islands. The BPF retired to Leyte Gulf to rest and resupply on 17 April and "Whelp", together with "Wager", was tasked to escort the badly damaged carrier to Sydney on 3 May. They arrived on 14 May and "Whelp" continued on to Melbourne to begin a refit that lasted until July.