Mined off Leyte
Arriving off Dinagat Island Ross provided coverage for the landings there, then joined TU 77.2.6 to provide cover for the minesweeping and hydrography unit. Her duty ended abruptly when Ross struck a mine under the forward engineroom and fireroom, and began to list to port. Subsequently she struck a second mine in the vicinity of the after engineroom. The list increased to 14° as Chickasaw (ATF-83) and Preserver (ARS-8) closed to render assistance. Casualties from the mine explosions were 23 crewmembers killed, and nine injured. While damage repairs were ongoing, the anchorage was attacked by Japanese planes. Shrapnel injured two more from Ross's crew.
