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| Navy League of the United States, Barcelona, Spain Council |
P.O. Box 5126, 08080, Barcelona, Espaņa Email: barcelonanlus@gmail.com |
| USS Spruance Visits Barcelona |
| The USS Spruance was welcomed by the Navy League of the U.S., Barcelona Council, when she docked at our home-town port in November. Commander Jerome F. Hamel hosted a tour of "The Quiet Warrior", as the vessel is nicknamed, for our council members and friends. Our thanks to Commander Hamel and all his crew for their hospitality. |
| The USS Spruance is the oldest and finest destroyer in the U.S. Navy. Primarily designed for undersea warfare, the Spruance has evolved to serve as a Strike Destroyer. The heart of the ship's fighting spirit is the 35 Officers, 30 Chief Petty Officers, and 300 Sailors who make up her crew. Their pride and professionalism are the reasons why the USS Spruance sets the standard on the waterfront, with readiness to perform all air, surface, subsurface and strike missions as required by the USS JFK Carrier Strike Group. |
| USS SPRUANCE (DD 963) |
| Commissioned on September 20, 1975, the USS Spruance is the first of a class of 31 destroyers developed for the primary mission of undersea warfare. Displacing 9020 tons, Spruance class destroyers are the largest in the history of the U.S. Navy. These sophisticated warships are designed to be readily adaptable to new weapons systems and electronics. The USS Spruance is equipped with some of the most modern upgrades in her class. The Vertical Launch System upgrade was received int he late 1980s, replacing an older ASROC launcher. The active and passive Anti-Submarine sensors are among the most capable int he world. Engineering plant steam auxillary systems have been completely replaced with electric equivalents. Spruance is fitted with Reverse Osmosis Distilling Plants, signicantly increasing the production of fresh water. Numerous other upgrades have kept the Spruance at the cutten edge of technology. The USS Spruance has served in numerous overseas deployments throughtout the past twenty-eight years, most notably serving in Operation Desert Storm, conducting operations in support of U.N. sanctions against Iraq, and helping to enforce the U.N. embargo of Haiti. The Spruance deployed to the Mediterranean in 1997 with the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group. Serving as the Destroyer Dquadron 24 flagship, Spruance made significant contributions throughout the deployment including visiting foreign ports, participating in multi-national naval exercices, serving as Presidential Support Ship in Holland, representing the U.S. Navy in commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the Allied landings in France, and hosting Ukrainian military and diplomatic distinguished visitros during that country's Independence Day celebration. In September, 2000, the Spruance celebrated her 25th year of active U.S. Naval service, making her the oldest of the Destroyer in the fleet. |
| A superior weapon suite makes the Spruance one of the most capable ships in the U.S. Navy's arsenal. |
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| Displacement: 9020 tons Length: 563 feet (171.7 meters) Beam: 55 feet (16.8 meters) Draft: 32 feet (9.7 meters) Range: 6000 nautical miles @ 20 knots Max Speed: 30+ knots Crew: 30 Officers, 330 Enlisted Aircraft: One SH-60B Light Airborn Multi-Purpose System Radars: Sonars: E-Warfare: SPS-40E Air Search Radar SQS-53B Sonar Dome SLQ-32 (V) 3 SPS-55 Surface Search Radar SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar SPG-60 Gun Fire Control Radar SPQ-9A Gun Fire Control Radar URN-20 TACAN MK 95 NATO Sea Sparrow Fire Control Radar |
| Armed with a 61-cell Vertical Launch System (VLS), the Spruance can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against shore targets and Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets against hostile submarines. The weapon systems aboard the Spruance gives it a lethal ability to engage enemy forces in a highly complex and challenging warfare environment. |
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