"Sicard" left Pearl Harbor on 24 September for a new area of operations, the Southwest Pacific. She escorted ships to Nouméa and Espiritu Santo, and then continued to Purvis Bay where she and her sisters, "Gamble" (DM-15) and "Breese" (DM-18), formed a fast mine-laying group. The group sortied on 31 October to plant an offensive minefield off Bougainville Island. Just as the group completed its mission and began to retire early in the morning of 2 November, it was illuminated by parachute flares from enemy aircraft. Soon a friendly cruiser force steamed by at high speed in the opposite direction and opened fire on an invisible enemy. "Sicard'"s group had unknowingly helped bring the opposing forces together for the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay.