"Stephen Potter" screened Admiral Gerald F. Bogan's carriers as they launched strikes against Okinawa on 10 October and against Formosa on 12, 13, and 14 October. On 13 October, was torpedoed below her armor belt and lost all power. She was taken in tow by , and "Stephen Potter" was assigned as one of their escorts. The next day, , hit by a torpedo in the engine room, was taken in tow by and joined the retiring "Canberra" group, now designated Task Unit (TU) 30.3.1. relieved "Wichita" of towing "Canberra" on 15 October, and relieved "Boston" of her duties on 16 October. "Houston" was torpedoed again on the 16th, and all unnecessary men were removed. "Stephen Potter" took 83 on board. She detached to return to TG 38.2 on 20 October, which was en route to the Philippines to support Allied landings on Leyte which began that day. Air strikes were flown against Luzon on 22 October, and the carriers retired toward Manus the next day.