VMA-513 deployed as part of HMM-265 (REIN) ‘Dragons’ aboard USS "Tarawa" (LHA-1) as part of Task Group 76.3/Amphibious Ready Group Alfa/Amphibious Squadron Seven, from 14 October 1980, visiting Subic Bay, PI and participating in exercises Valiant Blitz in the Philippines, Amphibious Squadron Seven spent almost a week at Phattaya Beach, from 22 to 27 December, before moving on to Singapore where she arrived on the 30th. After operations in Diego Garcia where Amphibious Squadron Seven's embarked Marines carried out a landing exercise between 28 and 30 January, they headed south east for exercise Valiant Usher 81-3 off Lancelin, Western Australia with units of the Australian Military. After Valiant Usher off Western Australia, VMA-513 and Amphibious Squadron One conducted an R&R visit to Perth/Fremantle, Western Australia from 8–13 February 1981. The squadron later took part in exercises Team Spirit 81 and Valiant Flex 81-2 at Pusan (Busan) South Korea. VMA-513 arrived back at MCAS Yuma, AZ on or about 16 April 1981.