altogether, "vance" made eight round-trip voyages to the western mediterranean and followed each with availability at either boston or new york. four times the ship engaged in training exercises out of casco bay, sharpening the crew's antisubmarine and gunnery skills. on 14 july 1944, "vance" helped to fight off a german air attack against an allied convoy off oran. during most of the voyages, the destroyer escort held the "whip" position in the convoy, a grueling and sometimes frustrating detail since merchantmen frequently displayed a lack of discipline and straggled behind the convoy. carrying the division doctor on board, "vance" on occasion would take on board men from other ships for medical treatment.