swung right to attempt to launch a torpedo at the lead escorts. Despite the fact that the gunners could not hear the bearings being called out from the bridge over the sound-powered phones the fire from the Oerlikons deterred the aircraft from making an attack. Attack by German Aircraft Defeated No ships were damaged in the attack. Walter S. Brown, which had engaged six enemy aircraft during the seven-minute battle, dropped astern at 2153 in company with the British tug Hengist and the French coastal escort Cimieterre to search for possible casualties. After a thorough search in which nothing was found the ships returned to the convoy. Commendation from the Convoy Commander Of UGS-40's defense, Comdr. Sowell had high praise for the men and ships of the convoy's screen and was especially complimentary in judging Walter S. Brown's performance. "It is believed", he wrote, "that her performance, when coordinated with the other forces present, broke up the enemy's attack, disrupted his plans, and resulted in no Allied losses; whereas, the enemy suffered a heavy loss of planes." End-of-War Activities For the remainder of the war in Europe, Walter S. Brown continued to escort convoys on round trips from the east coast of the United States to North African ports. Then, in the summer of 1945, she operated briefly in training exercises with submarines off the northeast coast of the United States. Final Decommissioning Decommissioned at the New York Naval Shipyard on 4 October 1945, Walter S. Brown was struck from the Navy List on 24 October 1945. Her scrapping by the New York Naval Shipyard was completed by 12 July 1946. Awards Walter S. Brown received one battle star for her World War II service References External links World War II frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States Walter S. Brown (DE-258) Ships built in Boston 1943 ships