Ordered to the Pacific, she trained out of San Diego, and then joined Task Force 53 at Pearl Harbor, sailing with it on 22 January 1944 for the assault on Kwajalein.

Palmer remained in the Marshalls until 12 February laying buoys and screening transports, then made escort voyages to Pearl Harbor and Majuro.

Preceding the invasion force by two days, Palmer arrived off Saipan for a five-hour sweep on 13 June, and then screened transports during the amphibious landings.

Staging at Manus, her force arrived in Leyte Gulf on 17 October to sweep the main channels and transport areas during the three days before the landings.

After escorting the transports through the safe channels, the minesweepers made a quick sweep in Surigao Strait, then returned to Manus on 23 October, the eve of the Battle for Leyte Gulf.