"Worden" again returned to the Gulf of Tonkin on 18 November where she operated until 5 December. After a visit to Taiwan, the frigate finished out the year at Yokosuka, Japan, in a standdown period. Operations in the Gulf of Tonkin and in-port periods characterized "Worden"s employments during 1973. Support of Task Force (TF) 77 and TF 78 was interspersed with needed repair availabilities in Yokosuka, Japan, and Subic Bay, Philippines, and relaxing port visits to Hong Kong and Taiwan. On 28 January 1973, the Vietnam cease fire was announced, and "Worden" joined TF 78 at Subic Bay. During the sweeping of Haiphong harbor, she functioned as Rear Admiral Brian McCauley's flagship as well as the helicopter support platform, the repair and logistic facility for the minesweeping units, and task force antiair warfare and surface defense. For later operations, the frigate served on antiair picket station and as the Positive Identification and Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) station. Besides the inherent responsibility for aircraft control and identification and air surveillance, "Worden" functioned as search and rescue asset coordinator and platform for the pre-positioned helicopter. After the combat and post-hostility period had ended, "Worden" began stressing new phases of operations: antisubmarine warfare and engineering readiness. The last underway period of the year, 30 November to 3 December, was spent conducting ship antisubmarine tactics with the destroyer and the submarine . "Worden" returned to Yokosuka to a Christmas holiday upkeep period and a rest from the activities of the past year. "Worden"s first exercise of the new year 1974 was "Aswex 3–74" (Taeknando III) with the Republic of Korea Navy, conducted from 14 to 17 January. After a brief return to Yokosuka, she participated in joint Exercise "Fly-A-Way" off Okinawa, returning to her home port on 8 February. The warship remained in Yokosuka until 25 February in upkeep status, then sailed for Subic Bay, Philippines, for surface missile exercises. The missile exercises marked the first multi-ship missile exercise in the western Pacific of the post-Vietnam era. "Worden" followed these exercises with a port visit to Keelung, Taiwan, and tender availability at Sasebo, Japan. On 29 March, the frigate departed Sasebo for operations with "Midway" in the Sea of Japan.