The crew enjoyed a port visit to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, before going to sea for "Bystander" operations near Gibraltar. After a tender availability at Naples, "W. S. Sims" joined the NATO Exercise "Display Determination"—already in progress—on 24 September. When the exercise ended, the escort ship acted as the sole escort for as they visited Malaga and Rota, Spain. On 14 October, "W. S. Sims", along with "Independence" and several other ships, departed Rota and arrived at Mayport on the 21st.