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History of USS Spruance (DD-963)

USS *Spruance* (DD-963) was the lead ship of the Spruance-class destroyers, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1975. Named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, she served as a multi-mission destroyer specializing in anti-submarine warfare, while also providing anti-air and anti-surface capabilities. Over her nearly three decades of service, *Spruance* participated in numerous operations, including deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and Persian Gulf, notably supporting Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The ship was decommissioned in 2005 and subsequently sunk as a target during a naval exercise in 2006.

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ABOUT USS Spruance (DD-963)

  • Name Origin: USS Spruance (DD-963) was named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, a prominent U.S. Navy commander during World War II, known especially for his leadership at the Battle of Midway.
  • Lead Ship: She was the lead ship of the Spruance-class destroyers, a class designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare and introduced new technologies to the fleet.
  • Commissioning: USS Spruance was commissioned on 20 September 1975, at Pascagoula, Mississippi, with Mrs. Raymond A. Spruance, the Admiral’s widow, serving as sponsor.
  • Innovative Propulsion: Spruance-class ships were the first large U.S. Navy surface combatants powered by gas turbine engines (four General Electric LM2500s), providing rapid acceleration and easier maintenance over steam turbines.
  • Cold War Operations: Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, USS Spruance conducted numerous North Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, often shadowing Soviet naval vessels and participating in NATO exercises.
  • Lebanon Crisis: In 1983, USS Spruance supported U.S. Marines in Lebanon as part of the Multinational Force, providing naval gunfire support and serving as a deterrent during a period of instability.
  • Modernization: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Spruance was upgraded to carry Tomahawk cruise missiles, significantly enhancing her strike capabilities.
  • Desert Storm: The ship participated in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, launching Tomahawk missiles against Iraqi targets and helping enforce maritime blockades.
  • Decommissioning: USS Spruance was decommissioned on 23 March 2005, after nearly 30 years of service, and was later sunk as a target during a training exercise in December 2006.
  • Legacy: The Spruance-class set the stage for future U.S. Navy destroyers, influencing the design and construction of the Arleigh Burke-class, and her name lives on with the current USS Spruance (DDG-111), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer commissioned in 2011.

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