Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Yakagoverwa kuboka rokurwisa rinotakura zvikepe, "Merrill" yakaendeswazve kuMiddle East muna 1991. Ari munzira kuenda kuPersian Gulf "Merrill" akatora rutivi muOperation Fiery Vigil muna June 1991. Kusvika munharaunda pashure pokurambidzwa kwehondo yeGulf War, "Merrill" yakava ngarava huru nokuda kwemasimba anotsvaira zvimbambaira muPersian Gulf uye yakanga iri ngarava yehondo yechipiri kushanyira chiteshi chakasunungurwa cheKuwait City pashure pe
Kupinda muIraq. 1992 yakawana "Merrill" ichipinda mubasa rokurwisa zvinodhaka munharaunda yeCentral America yemabasa. Muna September 1992 "Merrill" yakatumirwa kuLong Beach Naval Shipyard nokuda kwokuvandudzwa kukuru kwakapfuurira kusvikira pakupera kwa1993. Kugadziridza uku kwaisanganisira kuvandudzwa kwepaneru dzekutonga dzemasisitimu eradar, nhanho yese yakawedzerwa kuchikepe kuti igadzire makomputa eCIWS anotonga akambomisikidzwa, uye zvakanyanya kukosha, RAM (Radar Absorbent Material) yakawedzerwa kuchikepe chose, yekutanga kune anoparadza. Paakagamuchira chiziviso chekurongwa kwekuvharwa kweLong Beach, USS Merrill yakatamira kuSan Diego Naval Base muna 1994 uye yakashandisa mwedzi mishomanana inotevera sechirongwa chekuedza kuiswa kwe RAM zvinhu, izvo zvakagadzirirwa kuita kuti ngarava iite sechinhu chiduku sechikepe chechikepe pamadhora.