The New Year starts with USS STERETT (CG 31) moored port side to USS LEAHY (CG 16) at Pier Four, Naval Station, San Diego, California.
On 12 January, USS STERETT (CG 31) is underway for Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) exercises after a brief stop at the ammunition pier at Naval Air Station, North Island, California. While at sea for NGFS isolation tests were conducted on the recently installed electronic countermeasures systems. USS STERETT (CG 31) returned to Naval Station, San Diego on 23 January after fully qualifying in Naval Gunfire Support.
The week starting 26 January was a busy time with a Supply Material Inspection, a Personnel Administration Assistance Team visit, a Communications Assistance Team visit and a 9024 Weapons Handling Training Team visit.
In early February the results of the Human Resources Availability (HRAV) conducted last December arrived on board and several days were utilized in analyzing the data and obtaining the feedback desired by the HRAV coordinators.
The Harpoon Weapons System Certification Team was aboard from 9-13 February and declared USS STERETT (CG 31) qualified to carry the harpoon missile.
The USS STERETT (CG 31) was selected to fire the Twenty-one Gun Salute for President’s Day, 16 February.
After returning to port on 25 March from a period of at sea training, a series of briefings were conducted by a team from the Human Resources Management Group in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. Crewmembers and their families attended these briefings concerning what was to be expected when the USS STERETT (CG 31) departed for her new homeport on 27 July 1981.
The month of April started with the Board of Inspection and Survey, Pacific being on board from the 6th to the 10th with the Underway Material Inspection taking place on the 7th. This was followed on the 15th and 16th by the Command Inspection conducted by COMCRUDESGRU THREE, Rear Admiral Edward W. CARTER, III. From the 20th to 23rd a Nuclear Weapons Assistance Team was aboard to help train for the upcoming Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection.
Refresher Training began on 27 April and would conclude with the final battle problem on 22 May. The many training evolutions of this phase were broken up by a weekend as Visit Ship at Broadway Pier in San Diego, California. During the two-day open house more than one thousand visitors came aboard. The crewmembers that had volunteered as tour guides found this a good opportunity to talk to people about the Navy and to show-off the STERETT.
Refresher Training was successfully completed on 22 May.
On 26 May, USS STERETT (CG 31) was again underway, this time for READIEX 5-81 with RADM James W. CARTER, III, COMCRUDESGRU THREE embarked. This exercise was concluded on 1 June.
The Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspection commenced on 9 June and was successfully completed on 11 June 1981.
Vice Admiral Edward S. BRIGGS, Deputy CINCPACFLT, was aboard USS STERETT (CG 31) on 12 June for a brief visit.
USS STERETT (CG 31) was underway again from the 15th to the 19th of June as a participant in COMPTUEX 4-81 with ten Guests of the Navy aboard.
The next events in preparation for the upcoming homeport shift were munitions onloads at Naval Air Station, North Island, California on 14 July and at Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California on 15 and 16 July.
On 27 July, USS STERETT (CG 31) sailed from San Diego enroute to her new homeport of Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines.
After a stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from 3 to 5 August for many briefings concerning events and procedures for the Western Pacific area, STERETT continued to Subic Bay with a stop for fuel at Guam, Mariana Islands on 14 August.
Upon arrival at Subic Bay, R.P. on 19 August, STERETT was greeted and visited by many awaiting families and dignitaries including Rear Admiral Donald P ROANE, CTF-73, Rear Admiral Huntington HARDISTY, CTF-70, Rear Admiral Richard M. DUNLEAVY, COMUSNAVPHIL, and the Vice Mayor of Olongapo City. The ship then commenced a regular three week upkeep at Alava Pier 5/6, Ship Repair Facility, Subic Bay.
During the 19 August to 13 September 1981 upkeep, STERETT was visited by Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Thomas B. HAYWARD on 4 September 1981 and CINCPACFLT Admiral James D. WATKINS on 11 September 1981.
Rear Admiral Harry C. SCHRADER, Jr., CTF SEVEN FIVE, Commander Surface Combatant Force Seventh Fleet and his staff, embarked on 17 October.
From 7-12 November, STERETT made a port visit to Hong Kong. This was the first port visit since leaving the shipyard in 1980.
STERETT made another port visit from 6-8 December at Chinhae, South Korea and from 9-13 December participated in ASW exercise 82-1K with units of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Republic of Korea Navy. On 18 December STERETT successfully completed the Operation Propulsion Plant Examination.
CHRONOLOGY OF HIGHLIGHTS
-1981
DATE
EVENT
JAN 1 Moored
portside to USS LEAHY (CG 16) Pier Four,
Naval Station, San Diego, CA
FEB 9-13 Completed full Harpoon Certification
FEB 16 Conducted
21 Gun Salute for President’s Day as
San Diego, Naval Station saluting ship
MAR 2 Conducted
Training Readiness Evaluation
for Refresher Training
APR 6-10 INSURV
APR 7 Underway for UMI
APR 15-16 Command Inspection by Rear Admiral Edward W. CARTER, III, COMCRUDESGRU THREE
APR 20-23 NWAT
APR 27- MAY 22 Refresher Training
MAY 2-3 Visit ship – Broadway Pier
MAY 26-JUN 1 READIEX 5-81, with COMCRUDESGRU THREE,
Rear Admiral Edward W. CARTER, III, Embarked
JUN 9-11 NWAI
JUN 12 Deputy CINCPACFLT, Vice
Admiral Edward S. BRIGGS
visits USS STERETT
JUL 27 Underway for new
homeport of Subic Bay,
Republic of the Philippines, via Pearl Harbor and Guam
AUG 2-4 Inport Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
AUG 14 Brief stop at Guam for fuel
AUG 19 Arrive new homeport – Subic Bay R.P.
SEP 4 Chief of Naval
Operations, Admiral Thomas B. HAYWARD
visits USS STERETT
SEP 11 CINCPACFLT, Admiral James D. WATKINS visits USS STERETT
OCT 9 Naval Gunfire Support Exercise, Tabones Range Luzon, R.P.
OCT 17 Rear Admiral Harry C.
SCHRADER, Jr., CTF SEVEN FIVE,
Commander Surface Combatant Force Seventh Fleet,
and his staff embarked
NOV 7-12 Port visit – Hong Kong
DEC 5-8 Port visit – Chinhae, South Korea
DEC 9-13 ASWEX 82-1K
DEC 16-18 OPPE
DEC 19-31 Commence holiday upkeep, Subic Bay, R.P.