NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FOR 1991
STERETT began the New Year in its homeport of Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines after a three-week period of holiday leave and upkeep. She departed Subic Bay on 3 January with Battle Group E, conducting valuable training enroute Singapore. STERETT detached from the battle group 7 January and anchored off of Singapore for a four-day port visit. From Singapore, she sailed to Pattaya Beach, Thailand on 10 January, crossing the equator enroute on 12 January at 160 degrees west longitude. She arrived at Pattaya Beach on 14 January and remained inport for liberty until 18 January. While inport at Pattaya, U.S. armed forces launched air strikes against Iraqi forces in the Persian Gulf, marking the beginning of Operation Desert Storm.
STERETT set sail from Pattaya Beach on 18 January for Subic Bay. She returned to Subic Bay on 22 January and remained in port for four days, departing on 25 January for Missile Exercise 91 – 1. Proceeding to Poro Point Missile Range in the Republic of the Philippines, STERETT fired a SM – 2 semi-active missile.
After the missile shot, STERETT continued on to Buckner Bay, Okinawa for LINKEX 91, an exercise which involved STERETT and Marine Air Control and Coordination Station Four in testing the capability to establish and maintain a clear data link. STERETT concluded the link exercise on 30 January and proceeded directly to Hong Kong, where she arrived inport on 1 February for five days of liberty.
STERETT departed Hong Kong on 6 February enroute to Subic Bay, arriving on 8 February. She remained inport for ten days preparing for Team Spirit 91. On 27 February, she departed Subic Bay for Korea and Team Spirit 91, an annual U.S.-Republic of Korea exercise.
STERETT arrived at Okinawa on 2 March for a planning conference of U.S. Forces, and proceeded on 3 March to Pohang, Korea for the joint planning conference. She arrived at Pohang on 6 March and departed on 7 March to begin the exercise off the coast of Pohang. Participants included eight U.S. Navy surface ships, one U.S. Navy submarine, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force aircraft, eleven R.O.K. surface ships, and R.O.K. and U.S. Marines. Due to Operation Desert Storm, Team Spirit 91 included a smaller U.S. contingent, but the exercise remained a vigorous test for U.S. and Korean forces in all warfare areas. STERETT played an important role as the exercise’s major surface combatant, acting as the data link coordinator and as the AAWC, ASUWC, and EWC.
STERETT and other surface combatants, together with assigned air assets and U.S. Marines, operated as "orange" forces which were tasked with attacking the "blue" forces on the beach. Additionally, she conducted live-fire gunnery exercises against towed surface and air targets on 15 and 16 March. At the conclusion of the exercise on 17 March STERETT received praise from the Amphibious Task Force Commander and other participants for her proficiency and professionalism.
STERETT sailed for Sasebo, Japan on 17 March and arrived on 19 March. She spent four days inport before departing for Subic Bay on 22 March. She joined USNS KAWISHIWI (TAO 146) on 23 March for mutual training enroute Subic. She arrived at Subic Bay on 26 March and spent fourteen days inport prior to conducting MISSLEX 91 – 2 on 8 April during which she conducted a SM – 1 semi-active missile shot against a subsonic drone.
STERETT returned to Subic Bay on 10 April for seven days before again putting to sea on 16 April. She sailed to Tabones Range to conduct a Naval Gunfire Support exercise, and then continued on to Poro Point for MISSILEX 91 – 3. STERETT’s third missile exercise of the year again featured a SM – 1 semi-active missile shot against a subsonic drone.
STERETT returned to Subic Bay on 18 April and remained inport until 10 May continuing final preparations for change of homeport to San Diego, California. After a farewell ceremony at Alava Pier, which was attended by VADM ARTHUR, Commander, SEVENTH FLEET, RADM TOBIN, Commander, TASK FORCE SEVEN THREE, Mayor GORDON of Olongapo, news media, family and friends, STERETT departed Subic Bay for the last time on 10 May, sailing east for Guam. STERETT stopped in Guam on 14 May for refueling and a brief liberty call, marking the first time she visited U.S. territory since 1987. She departed Guam on 15 May and set sail for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, pausing briefly on 23 May for a swim call in over seven thousand feet of water. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 24 May and spent five days inport. On 28 May she embarked ten midshipmen and forty-two "tigers" and set sail for San Diego, conducting a passing exercise with USS LINCOLN (CVN – 72) and USS LONG BEACH (CGN – 9) on 1 June which included an impressive air power demonstration from CVW – 11. On 3 June rendezvous with USNS NAVASOTA (TAO – 106) to conduct underway replenishment.
After ten years away from the continental U.S. and trailing a four hundred-foot homecoming pennant, STERETT arrived at San Diego on 4 June. On 5 June, she departed San Diego for Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California where she spent two days offloading ordnance. She returned to San Diego on 8 June and remained inport until she conducted a dead-stick transit to Southwest Marine Shipyard on 12 August to begin a thirteen-month new threat upgrade overhaul.
STERETT made an immediate impact in San Diego and on the waterfront. She competed in the Surface Line Week events of 26 – 31 August, finishing in a tie for first place in the athletic competition and second place in the professional competition (both in the large ship category). Additionally, she had a Command Inspection from Commander, CRUISER DESTROYER GROUP FIVE from 4 November to 6 November, during which she was evaluated as outstanding for her skill and competence in virtually every area of administration. STERETT also developed significant ties with the community by participating in the Partnership in Education Program with Mead Elementary School and by participating in several community relations projects.
The early phases of the overhaul touched every part of the ship, but concentrated primarily on the New Threat Upgrade of her Combat Systems Suite. The SPS – 48C and SPS – 40 radars, Mark 10 mod 7 missile launcher, and CIC suite were removed in preparation for replacement by advanced systems. Engineering and habitability spaces received special attention, including a complex upgrade and overhaul of installed systems including the engine rooms and fire room.
STERETT entered dry-dock on 13 September to work on the hull, SQS – 26 sonar system, propellers, shafts, rudders, and major sea valves. She ended the year in dry-dock, continuing the overhaul after which she will emerge as the most capable NTU cruiser in the fleet.