She was scrapped in Anne H. Sims, and commissioned on 24 April After fitting out, Sims completed her shakedown off Bermuda. She was then assigned to Task Group TG After two such runs, the western terminus was changed to New York, and the escort made eight more trips escorting tankers from New York to Derry.
In the 20 crossings, only one tanker was sunk by a U-boat. Sims served as a training ship there until 24 January when she put to sea. Sims sailed for the Philippine Islands on 5 March and arrived there on the 21st. A week later, the transport stood out of Leyte Gulf as part of Task Unit Except for two fast convoy trips to Ulithi , she remained off Okinawa from 1 April to 27 May.
During this period, the ship was part of the anti-aircraft and anti-submarine screen around the island. She shot down an attacking Japanese bomber on 16 April. On 3 and 4 May and again on 13 and 14 May, Sims assisted in the search for survivors of picket destroyers hit by kamikaze aircraft. On the evening of 18 May, two kamikaze planes made a combined attack. Both planes, hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed into the water on her port side with a violent explosion that lifted and shook the entire ship.
The shock caused serious oil leaks and considerable damage to machinery and equipment. The crew repaired the damage, and Sims continued patrolling. On the 24th, she was again attacked by a kamikaze. The plane, even though hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed close aboard to starboard. Sims was sprayed with shrapnel which wounded 11 of her crew. Later that day, a fire and rescue party was sent on board Barry DD which had been hit by a kamikaze.
Fires prevented flooding her magazine, and she had been abandoned. Sims' party helped bring the fires under control, and Barry was taken under tow by a tug. Sims departed Okinawa on 27 May with a convoy which she escorted to Saipan before continuing on to Leyte for damage repairs. The transport was back on patrol off Okinawa on 26 June. The following day, she landed a company of United States Marines at the Tateyama Naval Air Station and stood by and took them off again when they were relieved by 8th U.
