"Worden" departed the area on 4 September for Hong Kong, thence to Yokosuka, Japan. Upon arrival on 25 September, "Worden" underwent upkeep, then sailed to Sasebo to embark Japanese officers for training. "Worden" made rendezvous with "Midway" and conducted an operational readiness inspection en route to Yokosuka. Arriving in port on 11 October, the ship began an upkeep period and was drydocked on the 25th. Three days of underway training late in November signaled the approaching end of the upkeep period. Following a Thanksgiving celebration, the ship got underway for Manila, Philippines, arriving there on 4 December. Four days later, she joined Midway and steamed for northern Japan, conducting Operation "Command Diamond", a major Air Force and Navy exercise off Okinawa on 16 December. "Worden" arrived in Yokosuka on 19 December and entered a holiday period which closed the year 1974.