In September 1978, after an overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, "Richmond K. Turner" reported to Fleet Training Center, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) for Refresher Training (REFTRA). The day after arrival "Richmond K. Turner" was directed to intercept and conduct surveillance of Soviet Naval units operating in the West Indies. With that task completed, the ship was then directed to transit the Panama Canal and conduct surveillance operations off the west coast of Nicaragua. Embarking REFTRA instructors, "Richmond K. Turner" completed all her training requirements while deployed in an operational status. The ship received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for these operations in March 1979. From March to September 1979, conducted fleet and independent operations with the Sixth Fleet, "Richmond K. Turner" made port visits to Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Valencia, Spain; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Alassio, Italy; Athens, Greece; and Constanta, Romania on the Black Sea. "Turner" was selected to represent the United States in St. Tropez at the 35th Anniversary of the Allied landings in southern France. In July 1986, "Turner" successfully launched a Harpoon missile in the Gulf of Sidra, destroying the target at a range of . This was the first firing of a Harpoon missile from a deployed US Navy ship.