DD-963 Spruance-class

Summary

Description

The Spruance-class destroyer, developed by the United States, served as the US Navy's primary destroyer during the 1970s and 1980s. It was introduced to succeed the World War II-era Allen M. Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers. The class was named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, a notable figure in naval battles of World War II, including the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The Spruance-class was notable for its large size and the employment of gas-turbine propulsion, a design chosen for efficiency and effectiveness. These destroyers were equipped with a novel flight deck and an enclosed hangar capable of accommodating two medium-lift helicopters, signifying their capability for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Their initial armament included automated 127 mm guns, an ASROC and Sea Sparrow missile launcher, later augmented with Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles for 24 of the ships. Despite various upgrades, the class retained its original "DD" designation indicating their focus on anti-submarine and point-defense roles rather than as guided missile destroyers (DDGs) with area anti-aircraft capabilities.

The single contract for the entire class of 30 ships went to the Litton-Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi, due to the Total Package Procurement concept aimed at maximizing production efficiency. Despite political and technical challenges affecting the building process, the class saw initial controversy due to perceived weak armament compared with Soviet counterparts, but later modifications included Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers and a 61-cell Vertical Launch Missile System (VLS) for more firepower.

Throughout its operational history, the modular nature of the Spruance design allowed for adaptations to different missions and upgrades including Tomahawk missile capabilities installed on several vessels. The ship Merrill notably served as a test platform for the Tomahawk program. Other ships fulfilled specialized roles, trialing new systems that would influence future naval vessel designs. In Operation Desert Storm, Spruance-class destroyers launched 112 Tomahawk missiles, showcasing their land attack proficiency.

Decommissioning of the Spruance class was expedited to save costs, as they were relatively more expensive and manpower-intensive compared to their successor, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, which offered greater capability and versatility, including the advanced Aegis combat system. The last Spruance-class destroyer, USS Cushing, was decommissioned in 2005. With the advent of the Zumwalt-class destroyers and continued production of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the Spruance class was rendered obsolete and most of the ships were broken up or used as target practice, save for the ex-Paul F. Foster, which became a Self Defense Test Ship.

Only one ship, the ex-Paul F. Foster, was preserved as a Self Defense Test Ship for live weapon trials, while most others were either scrapped or sunk as targets. The four Kidd-class ships, initially built for Iran but commissioned for the U.S. Navy, were eventually sold to Taiwan.

Technical specifications