On 22 August 1975, "Vampire", sister ship , and the supply ship were prepositioned in Darwin following tensions between Indonesia and the former Portuguese colony of East Timor (which cumulated in the Indonesian invasion in December). The ships were to evacuate Australian citizens and Timorese refugees if needed, but this did not eventuate. On 21 September, the destroyer left Darwin for a five-month Strategic Reserve deployment. During her fifth deployment, which ended with her return to Sydney on 18 February 1976, "Vampire" joined training exercises with United States Navy ships in the China Sea, and visited sixteen ports in six countries for diplomatic and goodwill purposes. On 31 May 1976, "Vampire" and the destroyer escort departed Sydney Harbour for the United States. The two ships, along with the destroyer , visited ports along the west coast of the United States as the RAN representatives during the United States Bicentennial: "Vampire" visited Long Beach, California and Seattle, Washington. "Vampire" returned to Sydney on 6 August, but departed seven days later to participate in exercises in South East Asia.