Sterett (CG 31) - Naval Cruise Book

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STERETT returned to Subic Bay on I8 April and remained inport until I0 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 for Guam. STERETT stopped in Guam on I4 May for refueling and a brief liberty call, marking the first time she visited U.S. territory since I987. 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 CCVN-721 and USS LONG BEACH CCGN-99 on OI June which included an impressive air power demonstration from CVW-ll. On 03 June rendezvous with USNS NAVASOTA QTAO-1063 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 04 June. On 05 June, she departed San Diego for Weapons Station, Seal Beach, Califomia where she spent two days offloading ordnance. She returned to San Diego on 08 June and remained inport until she conducted a dead-stick transit to Southwest Marine Shipyard on I2 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 tboth in the large ship categoryl. Additionally, she had a Command Inspection from Com- mander, CRUISER DESTROYER GROUP FIVE from 04 November to O6 November, during which she was evalu- ated as outstanding for her skill and competence in virtually every area of administration. STERETT also devel- oped significant ties with the community by participating in the Partnership in Education Program with Mead Ele- mentary 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 I0 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 fireroom. STERETT entered drydock on I3 September to work on the hull, SOS-26 sonar system. propellers. shafts. rud- ders, and major sea valves. She ended the year in drydock, continuing the overhaul after which she will emerge as the most capable NTU cruiser in the fleet.

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Q. i i i i 1 I I. l I l I l l s i i i l I 2 COMMAND HISTORY l99l STERETT began the new year in its homeport of Subic Bay. Republic ofthe Philippines after a three-wegkpm' od of holiday leave and upkeep. She departed Subic Bay on U3 .January with Battlegroup ln, conducting Valuable training enroute Singapore. STERETT detached from the battlegroup U7 .lanuary and anchored off of Singapofefm a four day port visit. From Singapore, she sailed to Pattaya Beach. Thailand on IU January, crossing the mum enroute on I2 January at 160 degrees West longitude. She arrived at Pattaya Beach on I4 January and remained inport for liberty until I8 January. While inport at Pattaya. U.S. armed forces launched air strikes again Iraqi fmm in the Persian Gulf, marking the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. STERETT set sail from Pattaya Beach on I8 January for Subic Bay. She returned to Subic Bay on 22 January and remained in port for four days, departing of 25 January for Missile lixercise 9l- I. Proceeding to Poro Paint Missile Range in the Republic of the Philippines, STERETT fired an SM-2 semi-active missile. After the missile shot, STERETT continued on to Buckner Bay, Okinawa for LINKEX 9l, 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 directlytti Hong Kong, where she arrived inport on 01 February for five days of liberty. STERETT departed Hong Kong on O6 February enroute to Subic Bay. arriving on 08 February. She remained inport for ten days preparing for Team Spirit 9 I. 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 02 March for a planning conference of U.S. Forces, and proceeded on 03 March to Pohang, Korea for the joint planning conference. She arrived at Pohang on 06 March and departed onlll 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 9l 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 impor- tant 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 I5 and I6 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 I7 March and arrived on I9 March. She spent four days inport bef0It departing for Subic Bay on 22 March. She joined USNS KAWISHIWI CTAO l46l on 23 Mgirqh for mutual training Slpgucti ggbjxc. Slhg arrived at Subic Bay on 26 March and spent .fourteen days inport prior to conducting MISSILEII pri uring which she conducted an SM-I semi-active missile shot against a subsontc drone. STERETT returned to Subic Bay on I0 April for seven days before again putting to sea on I6 April. She Sailell g01'1g,21bgJ2'El?E2'? to conduct a Naval Ounfire Support exercise, and then continued on to Poro Point for MISSILEX some drone s third missile exercise of the year again featured an SM-I semi-active missile shot against 21 Sllil 52 . 'si ' fs

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