She remained offshore while the Marines carried out their bloody struggle to wrest control of the atoll from a well-fortified enemy. During that struggle and while the other islands of the atoll were cleared, Virgo remained in the vicinity of Tarawa.
She arrived off Tarawa Atoll early on the morning of the 20th. While preparing to land marines on Betio Island, Virgo was straddled by four shells from a Japanese shore battery.