On 4 January 1974, "W. S. Sims" stood out of Valencia harbor to operate with . After a visit to Rota and exercises with , the escort ship participated in a search for survivors of a small British trawler; and four of six missing sailors were recovered. On 25 January, she proceeded via Gibraltar to Casablanca, Morocco, where she arrived on 1 February. The following day, the Soviet military attache came on board for a special tour of the ship. After brief stops at Rota and at Bermuda, "W. S. Sims" arrived at Mayport on 14 February.