On 10 January 1944, St. Louis headed back to Florida Island.
In February, she again moved northwest, this time into the extreme northern Solomons and the Bismarcks.
On the 13th, she arrived in the area between Buka and St. George Channel to support landing operations in the Green Islands, off of New Ireland.

At 1945 on the 14th, six Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers were sighted approaching St. Louis's group.
Crossing astern of the ships, the enemy planes went out to the southeast before turning and coming back.
Only five remained in the formation, which split off into two groups.
Two of the planes closed on St. Louis.

The first plane dropped three bombs, all near misses.
The second released three more.
One scored on the light cruiser, the others being near misses just off the port quarter.
The bomb that hit penetrated the 40 mm clipping room near the No.
6 gun mount, and exploded in the midships living compartment.
Twenty-three died and 20 were wounded, 10 seriously.
A fire, which had started in the clipping room, was extinguished.
Both of her scout planes were rendered inoperable, and her ventilation system was damaged.
Communication with the after engine room ceased, and the cruiser slowed to 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h).
On the 15th, she survived another air attack and was then ordered back to Purvis Bay.

Repairs were completed by the end of the month, and in March, St. Louis resumed operations with her division.
Through May, she remained in the Solomons.
On 4 June, she moved north to the Marshalls, where on the 10th, she sailed for the Mariana Islands in TF 52, the Saipan assault force.
Four days later, she cruised off southern Saipan.
On the 15th, she shelled the Chalan Kanoa area, retired as the landings took place, then moved back to provide call fire support and to shell targets of opportunity.
On the 16th, she proceeded south and bombarded the Asan beach area of Guam.
She then returned to Saipan and, on the 17th, shifted to an area north of that island where she remained through the battle of the Philippine Sea.
On the 22nd, she returned to Saipan and, after screening the refueling group for two days, proceeded to the Marshalls.

On 14 July 1944, St. Louis again headed for the Marianas.
The next day, she damaged her No.
3 propeller and lost 39 ft (12 m) of the tail shaft.
Nevertheless, two days later, she arrived off Guam as scheduled; and, during the afternoon, covered underwater demolition teams working the proposed landing beaches.
Pre-invasion shore bombardment followed, and after the landings on the 21st, she provided support fire and call fire.
On the 29th, St. Louis departed the Marianas for Pearl Harbor, where she was routed on to California for overhaul.
In mid-October, she steamed back to Hawaii, trained until the end of the month, then moved on across the Pacific, via Ulithi and Kossol Roads, to the Philippines, arriving in Leyte Gulf on 16 November.

During the next 10 days, she patrolled in the gulf and in Surigao Strait, adding her batteries to the anti-aircraft guns protecting shipping in the area.
Shortly before noon on 27 November, a formation of 12–14 enemy planes attacked the cruiser's formation.
St. Louis was unscathed in the brief battle.
A request was made for CAP cover, but Japanese planes continued to command the air.
At 1130, another 10 enemy planes filled the space vacated by the first flight and broke into three attack groups of four, four, and two.
At 1138, a "Val" made a kamikaze dive on St. Louis from the port quarter, and exploded with its bomb on impact.
Fires broke out in the cruiser's hangar area and spaces.
All crew members of 20 mm guns 7–10 were killed or wounded.

At 1139, a second burning enemy plane headed at her on the port beam.
Flank speed was rung up and the rudder was put hard right.
The plane passed over No.
4 turret and crashed 100 yd (91 m) out.

At 1146, there was still no CAP cover over the cruiser's formation, and at 1151, two more enemy planes, both burning, attacked St. Louis.
The first was splashed off the port quarter, and the second drove in from starboard and crashed a
On 10 January 1944, St. Louis headed back to Florida Island. In February, she again moved northwest, this time into the extreme northern Solomons and the Bismarcks. On the 13th, she arrived in the area between Buka and St. George Channel to support landing operations in the Green Islands, off of New Ireland.
At 1945 on the 14th, six Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers were sighted approaching St. Louis's group. Crossing astern of the ships, the enemy planes went out to the southeast before turning and coming back. Only five remained in the formation, which split off into two groups. Two of the planes closed on St. Louis.
The first plane dropped three bombs, all near misses. The second released three more. One scored on the light cruiser, the others being near misses just off the port quarter. The bomb that hit penetrated the 40 mm clipping room near the No. 6 gun mount, and exploded in the midships living compartment. Twenty-three died and 20 were wounded, 10 seriously. A fire, which had started in the clipping room, was extinguished. Both of her scout planes were rendered inoperable, and her ventilation system was damaged. Communication with the after engine room ceased, and the cruiser slowed to 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h). On the 15th, she survived another air attack and was then ordered back to Purvis Bay.
Repairs were completed by the end of the month, and in March, St. Louis resumed operations with her division. Through May, she remained in the Solomons. On 4 June, she moved north to the Marshalls, where on the 10th, she sailed for the Mariana Islands in TF 52, the Saipan assault force. Four days later, she cruised off southern Saipan. On the 15th, she shelled the Chalan Kanoa area, retired as the landings took place, then moved back to provide call fire support and to shell targets of opportunity. On the 16th, she proceeded south and bombarded the Asan beach area of Guam. She then returned to Saipan and, on the 17th, shifted to an area north of that island where she remained through the battle of the Philippine Sea. On the 22nd, she returned to Saipan and, after screening the refueling group for two days, proceeded to the Marshalls.
On 14 July 1944, St. Louis again headed for the Marianas. The next day, she damaged her No. 3 propeller and lost 39 ft (12 m) of the tail shaft. Nevertheless, two days later, she arrived off Guam as scheduled; and, during the afternoon, covered underwater demolition teams working the proposed landing beaches. Pre-invasion shore bombardment followed, and after the landings on the 21st, she provided support fire and call fire. On the 29th, St. Louis departed the Marianas for Pearl Harbor, where she was routed on to California for overhaul. In mid-October, she steamed back to Hawaii, trained until the end of the month, then moved on across the Pacific, via Ulithi and Kossol Roads, to the Philippines, arriving in Leyte Gulf on 16 November.
During the next 10 days, she patrolled in the gulf and in Surigao Strait, adding her batteries to the anti-aircraft guns protecting shipping in the area. Shortly before noon on 27 November, a formation of 12–14 enemy planes attacked the cruiser's formation. St. Louis was unscathed in the brief battle. A request was made for CAP cover, but Japanese planes continued to command the air. At 1130, another 10 enemy planes filled the space vacated by the first flight and broke into three attack groups of four, four, and two. At 1138, a "Val" made a kamikaze dive on St. Louis from the port quarter, and exploded with its bomb on impact. Fires broke out in the cruiser's hangar area and spaces. All crew members of 20 mm guns 7–10 were killed or wounded.
At 1139, a second burning enemy plane headed at her on the port beam. Flank speed was rung up and the rudder was put hard right. The plane passed over No. 4 turret and crashed 100 yd (91 m) out.
At 1146, there was still no CAP cover over the cruiser's formation, and at 1151, two more enemy planes, both burning, attacked St. Louis. The first was splashed off the port quarter, and the second drove in from starboard and crashed a
USS St. Louis (CL-49)