Following her return to Hawaiian waters, "Whipple" conducted further trials and began preparations for a Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. On 27 January 1972, "Whipple" departed Pearl Harbor in company with the rest of DesRon 33 and proceeded via Midway and Guam to the Philippines. The ship's subsequent Manila stopover, where she made port on 13 February, coincided with the initial work-up phase for SEATO exercise "Seahawk." Naval forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand, as well as the United States, participated in these exercises. Accordingly, "Whipple", in company with Australian carrier , took part in the simulated convoy escort operation.