USS Spruance (DDG-111)

History of the USS Spruance (DDG-111)

USS Spruance (DDG-111) is one of the youngest of the 62 powerful Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. In particular, the USS Spruance is classified as a "missile destroyer" due to its extensive missile launch capabilities. In earlier times, destroyers were primarily guided in combat by their projectile artillery and torpedo launchers, but technology has since evolved to include missiles. Spruance still retains projectile and torpedo weapons, although these are now considered secondary weapons to supplement the main missile loadout.

On September 13, 2002, the defense contract was awarded to Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine, USA). She was buried on May 14, 2009, and was officially baptized on June 5, 2010. It was completed in 2010 and put into use on October 1, 2011.

On September 1, 2011, USS Spruance left Bath, Maine, for a service ceremony in Key West, Florida.

The USS Spruance follows other ships of the Arleigh Burke class in design. Her hull is well contoured, with the bow slightly raised forward. The main interior areas are concentrated amidships, including the bridge, communications facilities, and turbine funnel (Spruance is a conventionally powered naval vessel).

The sides of the ship's superstructure are fused with the sides of the hull to improve inherent stealth from scanning surface radars - a common design element of modern surface ships. The stern area can accommodate or launch helicopters if needed, while the onboard hangar supports their operations. The main mast on the main superstructure houses a number of antennas, communications and sensor systems associated with your facility.

Deck guns were installed in front of the bridge superstructure along the forecourt.

When complete, the USS Spruance will be armed with a range of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. These missiles can target airborne threats as well as naval ships as needed. Rockets are stored and launched in vertically arranged "cells" - a 64-cell cluster and another 32-cell array - all different types are numbered 96. These include the venerable BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile for hitting land-based targets, the RIM-66 SM medium-range surface-to-air missile for countering airborne threats, and the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-range surface-to-air missile. Anti-aircraft missiles and RUM-138 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missiles.

The missile suite is the ship's main defense/attack line. Close range threats are handled by 5" (127mm) / 62 caliber dual-purpose deck guns as well as 2 x 25mm cannons. Up to 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns protect the crew from closer threats requiring automatic fire.

There are 2 x Mk Series 46 triple torpedo tubes. The electronic warfare suite includes an AN/SLQ-32(V)2 series electronic warfare system designed to counter any incoming threat or conduct an attack.

The Spruance has a crew of 260 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodate up to 30 officers and 282 enlisted personnel.

The USS Spruance has a displacement of 9,200 tons, a barrel length of 510 feet, a beam of 66 feet, and a draft of 33 feet. Power is provided by four pairs of General Electric LM2500-30 gasoline turbines, delivering up to 100,000 shaft horsepower to the twin shafts.

Top speed in ideal sea conditions is just over 30 knots and range is over 4,400 nautical miles.

The USS Spruance is certified to operate up to two Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk Navy helicopters or similar rotorcraft on its aft flight deck. The hangar allows scheduled maintenance of the helicopter as well as repairs at sea. The Seahawk is a utility helicopter used by the US Navy and is based on the US Army's UH-60 Black Hawk model - both from the Sikorsky S-70 model series.

In addition to the typical naval improvements that come with exposure to the Aral Sea and heavy deck work, the SH-60 Seahawk features a foldable tail section that improves storage space onboard.

USS Spruance was named in honor of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, a World War I and World War II veteran with approximately 42 years of Navy career. Spruance served as task force commander in Midway's pivotal campaign against the Imperial Japanese Army.

The first ship to be named after Spruance was the Spruance-class destroyer USS Spruance (DD-963), commissioned in 1975 and in service until 2005. She was sunk as a training target.

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