Hambleton emerged from the yard 13 December and sailed for the Pacific 30 December.
Steaming via San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok, she arrived Ulithi 9 March 1945, to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific.
Departing on 19 March, she arrived off Okinawa, the gateway to the heart of the Japanese Empire, 23 March.
Prior to the invasion 1 April, she cleared channels and anchorages for the 1,200 ships taking part in the invasion.
During the long campaign that followed, she operated off Okinawa to sweep, screen, patrol, and provide fire support.
She was under almost constant attack from the air.
Although damaged on 3 April by a kamikaze, which splashed close aboard her port quarter, Hambleton remained on duty as part of the fleet that had come to the Ryukyu Islands.

With Okinawa nearly secured, Hambleton and her sister ships deployed to the East China Sea in mid-July to begin massive sweeping of mines of this area.
In a month they cleared more than 600 miles (970 km) from the 7,200-square-mile (19,000 km²) area in one of the largest sweep operations yet launched.
Hambleton was in the East China Sea for a second such mission when Japanese acceptance of peace terms was announced 15 August.
Joining Admiral William F. Halsey's 3rd Fleet off Tokyo, Hambleton steamed into Tokyo Bay 28 August to clear the way for the occupation forces.
In the next few months Hambleton swept a total of 184 mines from Japanese minefields in various straits and channels.
During this period she rode out four typhoons, one of which battered her with 60-foot (18 m) waves.
Departing Japanese waters 20 November, Hambleton steamed via Eniwetok, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego to Norfolk arriving late December.
Hambleton emerged from the yard 13 December and sailed for the Pacific 30 December. Steaming via San Diego, Pearl Harbor, and Eniwetok, she arrived Ulithi 9 March 1945, to prepare for the invasion of Okinawa, the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific. Departing on 19 March, she arrived off Okinawa, the gateway to the heart of the Japanese Empire, 23 March. Prior to the invasion 1 April, she cleared channels and anchorages for the 1,200 ships taking part in the invasion. During the long campaign that followed, she operated off Okinawa to sweep, screen, patrol, and provide fire support. She was under almost constant attack from the air. Although damaged on 3 April by a kamikaze, which splashed close aboard her port quarter, Hambleton remained on duty as part of the fleet that had come to the Ryukyu Islands.
With Okinawa nearly secured, Hambleton and her sister ships deployed to the East China Sea in mid-July to begin massive sweeping of mines of this area. In a month they cleared more than 600 miles (970 km) from the 7,200-square-mile (19,000 km²) area in one of the largest sweep operations yet launched. Hambleton was in the East China Sea for a second such mission when Japanese acceptance of peace terms was announced 15 August. Joining Admiral William F. Halsey's 3rd Fleet off Tokyo, Hambleton steamed into Tokyo Bay 28 August to clear the way for the occupation forces. In the next few months Hambleton swept a total of 184 mines from Japanese minefields in various straits and channels. During this period she rode out four typhoons, one of which battered her with 60-foot (18 m) waves. Departing Japanese waters 20 November, Hambleton steamed via Eniwetok, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego to Norfolk arriving late December.
USS Hambleton (DD-455)