Spruance Class Destroyers - US Navy [07/27/2020]

#USNavy #SpruanceClass #Destroyers
Spruance Class Destroyers - US Navy [07/27/2020]

The Spruance class of destroyers served as the US Navy's cutting edge destroyers before the design of the Arleigh Burke class. Check out a brief history here.

ROADBLOCK'S DEFENSE CHANNEL 2020

[kpadalldotablet]

DD966 here. Hated the Navy, but those ships were impressive.

[jaychap]

USS Cushing was my first ship, there were still a few plankowners aboard when I got there in 82. I attended her decommissioning in 2005, I didn't realize she was the very last one to be decommed.

[marcguidry]

I served 5 years onboard the USS Fletcher DD 992, 8n the 80s. I loved my time onboard. She was like Cadillac of the US Navy.

[paulbakken]

I was a plank owner on DD964. Data Systems tech. I also got to go to the decommissioning before it went to Port Hueneme. I loved my time there

[mrmike]

I served on the Ingersoll DD990 from December 1999 to September 1993. Was aboard for the Collision in 1992.

[whatswrongwithamericanpolitics]

Served on the USS Kinkaid DD965 77-79! Loved that ship.

[baconator_c]

I served on the Peterson DD969 91-94.
Loved it, well except for the lack of sleep.

[David-hckd]

I am a Plankowner for Paul F Foster DD-964 (EW2). Served onboard USS Elliot DD-967 (EW1), USS Nicholson DD-982 (EWC), and USS Kidd DDG-993 (LT - LDO). So I'm very familiar with the class, with lots of water under the keel onboard these ships. My favorite was the Kidd.

[Hartagold]

The inboard torpedo tubes were astonishling the best configuration ever.

[billvines]

Was plank owner in the 965. In answer to J's comments that the ships had no auxiliary electrical power, it had three generators any one of which could power the ship.

[sadalite]

USS Thorn DD-988 here. She was a wonderful ship and I was glad I served on her crew.

[andrewrother-juve]

I was an IC3 aboard the USS Leftwich DD984 ( Wicked, wich of the west) from 87 to 90, made a lot of friends on board. Also on board during operation nimble archer in 1987(Oct 19th). I was sad to see the might Leftwich go down like that. Fair winds and following seas to all spruance class distroyers.

[scottjackson]

I was in High school when they started building these ships. Modular weapons spaces was a big selling point in Congress. The Navy wanted the nuclear powered Aegis strike cruisers, and DDG-47 class destroyers.
Congress refused both proposals only grudgingly funding the CG-47 class "cruisers." So the Spruance class destroyer was the lower cost ship. Shoved down the Navy's throat!
I expected many ships to be upgraded to the Kidd class standard. Just as clearly there were congressmen who expected that as well.
These were large, habitable, and very sea worthy ships. Fast, but without much in passive defense capabilities. A VERY upgradeable platform. Something Congress liked more than the Navy.
Between 1975, and 1985 there was a series of events that highlighted just how vulnerable modern warships had become. To relatively light weapons. There were some rudimentary attempts to improve the passive defenses of the Ticonderoga class. Only these ships were already thought of as a top heavy and overloaded design. The DDG-51 class was designed to correct much of what the Navy didn't like about the Reagon era ships. The Falklands war really underscored vulnerabilities the Navy didn't much like.
My ship operated with Fife, Foster and Fletcher before I got out of the Navy. Since then, I was very impressed by the Mk-41 upgrades many Spruance class got. Especially those ships who got an SPS-48 upgrade enabling them to use more than ASROC harpoon and tomahawk missiles.
In retrospect I suspect that the Navy did so many SINK-EX evolutions to highlight what they found lacking in the class.
Today given the need for more hulls in the water. All the rapid disposal of Spruance, Ticonderoga and Oliver Hazard Perry classes as ill advised.

[lerch]

I served on the I USS Spruance DD 963 " the first and the finest" as Third Class PO Disbursing Clerk from 1981 to 1982. In the same office was a First Class DK who I heard retired and took a teaching position at the DK "A" school located in Meridian Ms.

[ronjones]

Plankowner at 18 years old on USS Deyo DD989. Retired and old now

[raycuizon]

@3:13 USS Cushing 985. The Golden Lion. Flagship Destroyer Squadron 31

[myet]

USS Spruance DD-963 Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm

[Hartagold]

Never should have been decommissioned and sunk/scrapped. A TOTAL political move. I Commissioned one and was stationed on two more of them as a STGC(SW) Combat Systems (Super) Technician, so I can speak of somewhat authority. They were FANTASTIC.

[yeoldesaltydog]

I witnessed the USS Fife DDG-991 Leave the mouth of Point Loma on her own power as we, the USS Stennis CVN-74 were returning from OEF 2001-2002. Sadly found out they sunk her in 2005. I have a Complete 1/96 scale model Im hmmm hawing about selling. But she was a sight. I have 2 photos of her from that one and only encounter.

[loyalrammy]

Served aboard USS Fletcher (DD-992) from 1986-1988. ET2.