Until November 1943 Bell operated on patrol and escort in the North Atlantic, making one voyage to Britain in August.

During the late evening of 31 January 1945 while in 13°20' N., 119°20' E., she joined O'Bannon and Ulvert M. Moore in sinking the Japanese submarine Ro-115.

Bell returned to Puget Sound Navy Yard for repairs, arriving 27 February.

Bell patrolled and escorted convoys in the Philippines until the end of the war and then served on occupation duty at Okinawa, China, and Korea until 14 December 1945 when she left for San Francisco, arriving 4 January 1946.

Bell received twelve battle stars for her participation in World War II.