U.S. Navy Destroyers
Spruance-Class Destroyers
The Cold War's submarine hunters. The Spruance class replaced the WWII-era Sumners and Gearings with the Navy's first gas turbine-powered destroyers - ships as large as WWII cruisers, built for speed and silence. All 31 were constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in the largest single destroyer contract in naval history. Designed for anti-submarine warfare, they were modernized with 61-cell Vertical Launch Systems that turned them into Tomahawk strike platforms - firing 112 cruise missiles into Iraq during Desert Storm. Their hull spawned the Kidd-class destroyers and the Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The last Spruance decommissioned in 2005, replaced by the Arleigh Burke class they helped inspire.
DD-963 to DD-997
1975–2005
DD-963 USS Spruance
Spruance
Class
Lead ship of the class and the Navy's first gas turbine-powered destroyer. Named for Admiral Raymond Spruance, who won at Midway. Her commanding officers included future CNOs Vern Clark and Gary Roughead. Carried the breakaway flag 'BEWARE JET BLAST' as a nod to her jet-engine propulsion. Fired Tomahawks in Operation Desert Storm. Decommissioned 2005, sunk as target 2006.
DD-964 USS Paul F. Foster
Spruance
Class
Named for Captain Paul Foster, pioneer of naval petroleum engineering. After decommissioning in 2003, became the Navy's Self Defense Test Ship - the only Spruance preserved, used for live weapons testing of new combat systems including laser weapons.
DD-965 USS Kinkaid
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, who commanded the Seventh Fleet at Leyte Gulf. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean throughout the Cold War. Received the VLS upgrade for Tomahawk missiles.
DD-966 USS Hewitt
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, who commanded the amphibious assaults in North Africa, Sicily, and Southern France. Deployed extensively to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf.
DD-967 USS Elliot
Spruance
Class
Named for Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliot of the War of 1812. Participated in exercises with NATO allies and deployed to the Western Pacific throughout her career.
DD-968 USS Arthur W. Radford
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Arthur Radford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Eisenhower administration. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Western Pacific.
DD-969 USS Peterson
Spruance
Class
Named for Chief Boatswain's Mate Carl Peterson, who received the Navy Cross for heroism at Guadalcanal. Served primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
DD-970 USS Caron
Spruance
Class
Named for Hospital Corpsman Wayne Caron, Medal of Honor recipient killed in Vietnam saving wounded Marines under fire. Made two daring Black Sea transits during the Cold War, directly confronting Soviet naval forces that bumped her in 1988.
DD-971 USS David R. Ray
Spruance
Class
Named for HM2 David Ray, Navy corpsman and Medal of Honor recipient killed in Vietnam while shielding wounded Marines from enemy grenades. Tested the RAM missile system in the 1980s.
DD-972 USS Oldendorf
Spruance
Class
Named for RADM Jesse Oldendorf, who commanded the bombardment group that destroyed the Japanese southern force at Surigao Strait - the last battleship-versus-battleship engagement in history. Test platform for the AN/SPQ-9B radar.
DD-973 USS John Young
Spruance
Class
Named for Commander John Young, who commanded ships in the Continental Navy during the Revolution. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.
DD-974 USS Comte de Grasse
Spruance
Class
Named for French Admiral de Grasse, whose fleet at the Battle of the Chesapeake sealed Cornwallis's fate at Yorktown and won American independence. One of seven ships equipped with Armored Box Launchers for Tomahawk before the VLS era.
DD-975 USS O'Brien
Spruance
Class
Named for Captain Jeremiah O'Brien, who commanded the first naval action of the American Revolution at Machias, Maine, in 1775. Deployed to the Western Pacific and participated in exercises throughout the Pacific.
DD-976 USS Merrill
Spruance
Class
Named for RADM Aaron 'Tip' Merrill, who won the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay in the Solomons. First ship to test-launch a Tomahawk cruise missile at sea on March 19, 1980 - pioneering the weapon system that would define modern naval warfare.
DD-977 USS Briscoe
Spruance
Class
Named for RADM Robert Briscoe, who commanded naval forces during the Korean War. Served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
DD-978 USS Stump
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Felix Stump, who commanded escort carriers at Leyte Gulf and later served as CINCPAC. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.
DD-979 USS Conolly
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Richard Conolly, 'Close-In Conolly,' famous for bringing his amphibious ships close to shore for fire support at Sicily, Anzio, and Southern France. One of seven ABL-equipped ships.
DD-980 USS Moosbrugger
Spruance
Class
Named for RADM Frederick Moosbrugger, who won the Battle of Vella Gulf in a textbook night torpedo attack that sank three Japanese destroyers without loss. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
DD-981 USS John Hancock
Spruance
Class
Named for John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Operated in the Pacific throughout her career.
DD-982 USS Nicholson
Spruance
Class
Named for Captain Samuel Nicholson, first commanding officer of USS Constitution. Deployed to the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
DD-983 USS John Rodgers
Spruance
Class
Named for Commodore John Rodgers, senior officer of the Navy during the War of 1812. One of seven ships with Armored Box Launchers for Tomahawk.
DD-984 USS Leftwich
Spruance
Class
Named for Colonel William Leftwich Jr., USMC, killed in a helicopter crash in Vietnam while attempting to extract a surrounded recon team. One of seven ABL-equipped ships.
DD-985 USS Cushing
Spruance
Class
Named for Commander William Cushing, who sank the Confederate ironclad Albemarle with a spar torpedo in a daring night raid during the Civil War. Last Spruance-class destroyer decommissioned - October 21, 2005. Equipped with VLS and RAM.
DD-986 USS Harry W. Hill
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Harry Hill, who commanded amphibious operations at Tarawa, Saipan, and Iwo Jima. The only Spruance that did not receive the Tomahawk missile - her VLS upgrade was cancelled. Among the first decommissioned.
DD-987 USS O'Bannon
Spruance
Class
Named for Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon, USMC, who led the assault on Derna during the First Barbary War - the 'shores of Tripoli' in the Marine Corps hymn. His Mameluke sword became the pattern for the Marine officer's sword. Received VLS upgrade.
DD-988 USS Thorn
Spruance
Class
Named for Captain Jonathan Thorn, who was killed defending his ship against overwhelming odds in the Pacific Northwest in 1811. Served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
DD-989 USS Deyo
Spruance
Class
Named for VADM Morton Deyo, who commanded the bombardment force at Normandy and Okinawa. Received both ABL and later VLS for Tomahawk. Fired Tomahawks in Desert Storm.
DD-990 USS Ingersoll
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Royal Ingersoll, who commanded the Atlantic Fleet during the critical Battle of the Atlantic against German U-boats. First ship decommissioned in 1998 after only 18 years - victim of the Burke-class transition.
DD-991 USS Fife
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral James Fife Jr., who commanded submarine operations in the Southwest Pacific during WWII. Deployed to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. Received VLS.
DD-992 USS Fletcher
Spruance
Class
Named for Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, who commanded carrier forces at Coral Sea and Midway - the two battles that turned the tide of the Pacific War. Received VLS and fired Tomahawks in Desert Storm.
DD-997 USS Hayler
Spruance
Class
Named for RADM Robert Hayler, who distinguished himself commanding cruiser and destroyer forces in the Pacific. Last hull ordered - originally planned as a DDH helicopter destroyer before being built as a standard Spruance. Commissioned 1983, the youngest of the class.
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31
Ships Built
112
Tomahawks in Desert Storm
1
Test Ship Preserved