On 22 January 1944, the submarine chasers and joined as additional escorts, and two days later the destroyer escort joined the convoy as escort commander. The assemblage of ships and yard craft crossed the 180th meridian on 25 January, losing 26 January, in the process. Shortly before the end of the first dog watch on 28 January, at 17:55, "Lynx" embarked Sergeant Claude E. Rudy, USMC, a passenger in the tug "Zuni", who had been diagnosed with appendicitis. Ultimately, TG 116.15.3 reached its destination, Espiritu Santo, on 1 February, standing in to Pallikula Bay.