 In early 1980, the ship deployed to Pearl Harbor and later the West Coast of the United States and Canada for extensive exercises with the United States Navy and Canadian Maritime Command firing hundreds of rounds of 4.5-inch shells.Under the command of Cmdr Karl Moen, who described "Otago" as the "one true fighting ship in the RNZN"  with Ltd Cmdr Robert Martin as his second.Martin assumed command during a final six-month refit, leaving the ship on 7 April 1982.