From May 1972 through February 1973 the "Nitro" made a series of line swings off the coast of both South and North Vietnam. On 28 June while conducting underway replenishment with the , the carrier collided with "Nitro" with minimum damage to both ships. "Nitro" continued to conduct replenishment operations, including replenishment for the carriers during the 11-day "Christmas bombings" designed to bring North Vietnam back to the bargaining table in Paris. After a stop in Japan and other ports "Nitro" returned to Davisville on 12 March 1973.