Although scalded when a shot from Albemarle cut Sassacus's steam pipes, Hobby remained at his post to control the engines, thus enabling the vessel to retire successfully from the action and preventing an explosion.

She sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on 2 January 1944 for the Pacific, where she remained in the New Guinea area until 22 August providing fire support and ASW screen for various invasions in the Admiralty and Schouten Islands.

Sailing north in the fall, Hobby provided fire support for Peleliu and Ngesebus island invasions and then remained on screening duty through November.

On 16 February, Hobby joined Admiral Marc Mitscher's fast carriers of the 5th Fleet as they carried out the first air strikes against Tokyo since the Doolittle Raid of April 1942.

Hobby sailed to New York on 6 October to participate in Navy Day ceremonies, during which she hosted foreign naval attaches and congressmen during the Presidential Review of the fleet.