Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Spruance (DD-963), 1975-____

USS Spruance, lead ship of a class of 8280-ton destroyers, was built at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Commissioned in September 1975, she has since served in the Atlantic Fleet. During her first decade, she went to the South Atlantic and Africa in 1978 and deployed several times to the Mediterranean, with some of those cruises extending into the Black Sea, West Africa, the Persian Gulf and Northern Europe.

Spruance was modernized in 1986-87, receiving a vertical missile launching system, and has since continued her travels in Middle Eastern and European waters. At various times during the 1990s, she has also taken an active part in Caribbean counter-drug operations.

USS Spruance (DD-963) was named in honor of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN, (1886-1969).

This page features overall views of USS Spruance and of her insignia. It also provides links to other images relating to this ship.

For images taken on board the ship, and of her construction, see:

  • Exterior Scenes on board USS Spruance;
  • Interior Working Spaces on board USS Spruance;
  • Galley and Living Spaces on board USS Spruance and
  • USS Spruance Construction and Commissioning, 1970-1975.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: USN 1161135

    USS Spruance (DD-963)


    Underway during builders' trials in the Gulf of Mexico, February 1975.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 630 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1161135.

     

    Photo #: USN 1161134

    USS Spruance (DD-963)


    Running builders' trials in the Gulf of Mexico, February 1975.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 166KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1161134.

     

    Photo #: USN 1162175

    USS Spruance (DD-963)


    Underway in the Gulf of Mexico, during trials.
    Photograph was received in May 1975.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1162175.

     

    Photo #: USN 1164534

    USS Spruance (DD-963)


    Underway in the Gulf of Mexico, during her shakedown cruise in the Fall of 1975.
    Photograph was received in November 1975.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 510 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1164534.

     

    Photo #: NH 96851

    USS Spruance (DD-963)

    Underway after modernization with the Mark 41 Vertical Launching System, circa June 1987.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     

    Photo #: NH 83348-KN (Color)

    Insignia: USS Spruance (DD-963)


    Emblem adopted in 1974 and provided by the ship in February 1975.
    See Photo # NH 83348-KN (Heraldry) for a complete description of this coat of arms.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 121KB; 610 x 765 pixels

     

    For images taken on board USS Spruance, and of her construction, see:

  • Exterior views on board USS Spruance;
  • Interior Working Spaces on board USS Spruance;
  • Galley and Living Spaces on board USS Spruance and
  • USS Spruance Construction and Commissioning, 1970-1975.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    23 May 1999