"Manning" steamed to Kossol Passage, Palaus, where on 20 October, she joined other escorts as a screen for tankers and ammunition ships sailing to supply ships in Leyte Gulf. She arrived off Leyte on 23 October, and for more than a week she escorted ammunition ships during replenishment operations. Between 24 and 28 October, American ships repelled numerous Japanese air attacks. Gunfire from "Manning" splashed a twin-engined bomber during an evening attack on 24 October, and concentrated gunfire as well as chemical smoke helped drive off enemy planes and protect American shipping in the gulf.