▁unit ▁comm end ation ▁for ▁her ▁exception al ▁oper ational ▁performance . ▁▁ 1 9 9 0 s ▁ ▁Upon ▁return ▁from ▁combat ▁operations ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 9 1 , ▁the ▁ship ▁became ▁an ▁important ▁part ▁of ▁Operation ▁F ier y ▁V ig il ▁res cu ing ▁numerous ▁refuge es ▁to ▁safety ▁when ▁Mount ▁Pin at ub o ▁er upt ed ▁near ▁Sub ic ▁Bay , ▁Republic ▁of ▁The ▁Philippines . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 3 , ▁Cur ts ▁was ▁upgrad ed ▁with ▁the ▁ 4 1 0 0 - ton ▁class ▁modification , ▁extending ▁her ▁stern ▁another ▁ ▁and ▁en han cing ▁her ▁combat ▁capabilities . ▁Cur ts ▁joined ▁the ▁ ▁Battle ▁Group ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁to ▁particip ate ▁with ▁the ▁Japanese ▁Mar itime ▁Self - Def ense ▁Force ▁in ▁joint ▁anti - sub marine ▁war fare ▁exercise ▁MA RE X . ▁Later ▁that ▁year , ▁the ▁ship ▁deployed ▁to ▁the ▁Pers ian ▁G ulf ▁conduct ing ▁ 8 9 ▁board ings ▁of ▁merchant ▁vessels ▁in ▁the ▁Red ▁Sea ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁United ▁Nations ▁san ctions ▁enfor cement ▁against ▁Ira q . ▁Cur ts ▁material ▁and ▁oper ational ▁read iness ▁was ▁reward ed ▁with ▁the ▁battle ▁efficiency ▁award ▁for ▁ 1 9 9 4 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁Cur ts ▁participated ▁in ▁major ▁joint ▁exer cis es ▁with ▁units ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Navy ▁and ▁Japanese ▁Mar itime ▁Self - Def ense ▁Force ▁( J MS DF ),