Marc Mitscher
The ships stopped briefly in Funafuti in the Ellice Islands on 20 January before departing three days later to meet the rest of what was now TF 58; the unit, which comprised the fast carrier task force, had been created under the command of Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher on 6 January. "Washington"s unit was accordingly re-numbered as TG 58.1. Having arrived off the main target at Kwajalein by late January, "Washington" screened the carriers while they conducted extensive strikes on the island and neighboring Taroa. On 30 January, "Washington", "Massachusetts", and "Indiana" were detached from the carriers to bombard Kwajalein with an escort of four destroyers. After returning to the carriers the next day, the battleships resumed guard duty while the carriers resumed their air strikes.