NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FOR 1984
The USS STERETT began the year inport Subic Bay, R.P. making final preparations for a deployment to the Indian Ocean. On 5 January STERETT got underway and proceeded southwest to the Malacca Strait which she transited on 11 January. On 16 January, STERETT, as part of Battle Group Alfa with USS MIDWAY, relieved USS RANGER and Battle Group Echo in the Indian Ocean. STERETT’s primary mission in the Battle Group was AAW picket until 4 February when she moored at Masirah Anchorage for an availability period alongside USS YOSEMITE.
On 10 February STERETT was underway and returned to her AAW picket station. A change of command ceremony was held at sea on board STERETT on 15 February when Captain Jimmy H. McCOY assumed duties as Commanding Officer from Captain George E. SULLIVAN. STERETT remained at her AAW picket station until 28 February when she moored at Masirah Anchorage alongside USS PRAIRIE for a five-day availability. STERETT was back on station as AAW picket on 4 March.
The traditional "Crossing the Line" ceremony was held on 19 April at 00 – 00 latitude and 083 – 12E longitude as STERETT was enroute to Singapore. On 24 April STERETT arrived in Singapore for a four-day port visit. STERETT got underway from Singapore on 28 April and proceeded to Pattaya Beach, Thailand arriving on 1 May for a six-day port visit. On 7 May STERETT was underway, enroute to her homeport of Subic Bay where she arrived on 11 May, having completed a four month Indian Ocean cruise that consisted of 100 continuous days at sea.
With the Indian Ocean deployment behind her, STERETT commenced a much needed upkeep period in Subic Bay on 11 May in preparation for an Underway Material Inspection which began on 4 June. STERETT underwent a Combat Systems Material Review (CSMR) on 11 June prior to a three month repair availability at Ship’s Repair Facility, Subic Bay.
On 13 August STERETT was declared ready for sea and began her operational schedule with sea trials in the South China Sea. After a post-SRA CSMR, STERETT hosted a dependents cruise on 24 August and sailed to Manila for a weekend port visit. She returned to Subic Bay for a brief stop on 27 August to disembark the dependents and set sail for Yokosuka, JA for a two-week training availability.
Due to a very active typhoon season, STERETT was forced to take the first of several typhoon evasion measures and returned to Subic Bay on 29 June to escape the wrath of Typhoon June. A break in the weather on 30 August allowed STERETT to resume her schedule and she proceeded to Yokosuka arriving on 4 September.
At the completion of TRAV on 17 September, STERETT conducted a Group Sail with Canadian Destroyer Squadron Four of the Royal Canadian Navy, enroute to Subic Bay. STERETT arrived in Subic Bay on 24 September and made final preparations for a Command Inspection by Commodore Paul D. BUTCHER, COMNAVSURFGRU WESTPAC, on 26 September.
On 1 October STERETT commenced three weeks of Refresher Training (REFTRA) conducted by Fleet Training Group, Yokosuka, in the Subic OPAREAS. Upon completion of REFTRA, STERETT participated in MISSILEX 85 – 1 in the vicinity of Poro Point and successfully fired a telemetry configured Terrier missile.
STERETT was back in Subic Bay on 26 October and began making preparations for ASWEX 85 – 1JA. With CTF 75 and COMDESRON NINE embarked, the flagship was underway on 5 November, enroute to Yokosuka where she arrived on 11 November. Following two days of briefs with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, STERETT was underway on 14 November for the ASWEX OPAREAS. However, Typhoon Bill caused STERETT to return to Yokosuka on 17 November for typhoon evasion. The exercise resumed on 19 November only to be delayed the following day when STERETT returned to Yokosuka to seek haven from Typhoon Clara. The weather finally broke long enough for the exercise to continue on 22 November and was completed on 29 November when STERETT detached and proceeded north to the Sea of Okhotsk for Operation Kennel Punch.
On 3 December STERETT turned south and transited the Sea of Japan operating for several days with the USS MIDWAY and USS CARL VINSON Battle Groups enroute to Hong Kong. She arrived 8 December for a five-day port visit. STERETT departed Hong Kong on 13 December and sailed to Subic Bay arriving on 15 December for the remainder of 1984.