NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FOR 1990
STERETT began the New Year in its homeport of Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines with a three-week period of leave and upkeep. From 23 – 28 January STERETT operated in the South China Sea to conduct Naval Gunfire Support exercise at the Tabones range. On 28 January, STERETT began an Engineering Mobile Training Team in preparation for an Operation Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE). She departed Subic Bay on 5 February for a Pre-Overhaul Test and Inspection (POT and I) in anticipation of the ship’s 1991 overhaul. From 10 February – 18 March, STERETT operated alternately inport Subic Bay and underway in the South China Sea to tune the propulsion plant for the upcoming OPPE. She operated with Battle Group CHARLIE in the South China Sea from 19 – 24 March, performing plane guard and picket services.
On 2 April, STERETT began a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at Subic Bay’s Ship Repair Facility to undergo general maintenance and upkeep. She completed the SRA on 4 June, and from 5 – 24 June she operated alternately inport Subic Bay and underway in the South China Sea verifying equipment repairs and continuing preparations for OPPE. On 25 June, STERETT took time out of her OPPE preparations with a four-day port visit to Hong Kong, during which STERETT helped the American Club of Hong Kong celebrate it sixty-fifth birthday and 25 First Class Midshipmen were embarked for their summer training.
STERETT returned to Subic Bay on 4 July to make final OPPE preparations. The Propulsion Examining Board administrated the OPPE 11 – 13 July, after which the Board noted deficiencies in the ship’s propulsion plant and recommended a second OPPE to ensure that the plant met the Board’s high standards.
STERETT remained in port until 20 July, and then sailed to Kure, Japan on 21 July (stopping briefly in Okinawa enroute) to begin an American-Japanese Midshipmen training exercise. The 25 U.S. Midshipmen and 3 JMSDF officers embarked in STERETT to participate in joint operations enroute Yokosuka, Japan. These exercises introduced them to life on ships of different navies and provided them with an opportunity to practice ship-handling skills.
On 1 August, STERETT pulled into Yokosuka, Japan where the Midshipmen disembarked and where, on 3 August, STERETT began a training availability which lasted until 12 August. During the availability, the crew attended various schools including fire fighting and Damage Control and Combat Information Center team trainers.
STERETT departed Yokosuka on 13 August enroute to Subic Bay but was forced to divert eastward to pass behind the track of Typhoon Yancy. Significant high winds (50 – 60 knots) and heavy seas (15 – 25 ft) were encountered before turning west towards San Bernardino Straits. STERETT completed the difficult transit on 20 August, arriving at Subic Bay to make repairs and continue preparations for her second OPPE.
On 10 September, Captain Thomas E. BLOUNT Jr. relieved Captain Barry M. PLOTT, becoming STERETT’s fifteenth Commanding Officer. With the change of command, the officers and crew pursued Operational Propulsion Plant Reexamination preparations with renewed vigor and greeted the second Propulsion Plant Examining Board with a significantly improved propulsion plant. The three-day OPPRE began on 23 October and ended on 24 October, after which the Board commended all personnel for a successful examination. The Board was particularly impressed with the ship’s demonstration of a main space fire drill which involved over one hundred highly trained and motivated personnel.
On 13 November, STERETT began operations for a reconnaissance exercise with the United States Marine Corps. STERETT embarked 25 Marines from Company B, Third Marine Division for a three-day exercise which included one night insertion and several day and night shipboard launches and recoveries of Zodiac small boats. This exercise demonstrated the capability for Marine Reconnaissance personnel to operate from a CG 27-class cruiser by use of the torpedo recovery winch and davit. STERETT returned to Subic Bay on 17 November and remained in port until 29 November when she departed for a six-day port visit to Hong Kong, after embarking CTF 75 and staff. The embarkation and transit were extremely successful, with all goals met.
STERETT returned to Subic Bay on 8 December to prepare for a missile exercise in the South China Sea. She departed on 12 December for the exercise which was scheduled to include firing two missiles. STERETT launched the first missile, a standard, non-dedicated extended range missile (SM – 1 ER), against a low-altitude, high-speed drone simulating an anti-ship missile. The SM – 1 ER launch and intercept were evaluated as successful. STERETT was to launch the second missile, a standard, dedicated, extended-range missile (SM – 2 ER), against a low-altitude, high-speed drone in a low-angle firing exercise, but the launch aircraft was unable to launch the drone.
STERETT returned to Subic Bay on 14 December and embarked dependents for a dependents cruise in the South China Sea on 15 December. Over four hundred dependents enjoyed the one-day event which included a fantail barbecue, firing of the PHALANX Close In Weapons System, the five-inch, fifty-four caliber, dual-purpose gun, 50 caliber machine guns and demonstration of a man overboard recovery.
STERETT then commenced a two-week period of holiday leave and upkeep. She finished the year inport continuing to make preparations for the 1991 change of homeport and overhaul.