Calling all Spruance-class DD fans

[Devin]

All aboard for Spru-cans! I've got a kit I want to use to do Hancock. I just love the stern.

I assume they did not do as is the norm and weld the name on the stern for that ship? That would be some metal work!

-Devin

[Tracy White]

I can't answer that; that's the best picture of her stern I ever found.

[brandon]

Good afternoon

Please give me your private mail so I can send some pics as from the start till now this afternoon

Regards and have a good weekend

Wim

I will post pics and stuff as I go. Be sure to post yours as well.

[blandcorporation]

Does anyone have any details on the refits the Sprucans have received over the years? I am most curious about the VLS and the additional deckhouses that appear on top of the ships late in their career. Did the VLS cells only carry Tomahawks, or could they also carry ASROCs or Harpoons? What were all these additional deckhouses built for, and why was the aft CIWS platform raised an additional deck? Also, why were some hangar decks expanded on both sides of the ship and some only expanded on their starboard side?

I'm building a Cushing in 2005, prior to her decommisioning.

[brandon]

Sorry thast I can not help you with your request but maybe you are able to help me. I am nerly finished with the Cushing its the Dragon kit 1:350 I would like to know what is happened with the vessel after her decommissioning in dec. 2005 do you know that??

I like the Spruance class very well I still have to build another 6 all of the Dragon on 1:350

Looking forward and thanks

regards

Wim


have received over the years? I am most curious about the VLS and the additional deckhouses that appear on top of the ships late in their career. Did the VLS cells only carry Tomahawks, or could they also carry ASROCs or Harpoons? What were all these additional deckhouses built for, and why was the aft CIWS platform raised an additional deck? Also, why were some hangar decks expanded on both sides of the ship and some only expanded on their starboard side?

I'm building a Cushing in 2005, prior to her decommisioning.[/quote]

[blandcorporation]

According to Navysite.de, as of 2006, the Cushing is at the "Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in Pearl Harbor, HI", so its to the northwest of Ford Island.

[Charles Landrum]

I was the operations officer of USS HAYLER DD-997 when we went into refit and did the installs/conversion asked about - the conversion was comprehensive and complex. Here is the run down:

The mechanical ASROC was removed and replaced by the vertical launching system (VLS) that could handle Tomahawk and vertically launched ASROC (VLA). It could handle Standard Missile but since there was no associated fire control system, it was not done. Harpoon was never redesigned for vertical launch.

The ASW system received a significant upgrade: added was the SQQ-19 towed array SONAR (fairlead chock cut into the transom - the "golden sphincter"), receiver/processing capability for the SH-60B helo, upgraded SQS-53 SONAR.

The electronic warfare system was upgraded to add an active capability - SLQ-32 V3. The main antennas were moved to the after superstructure and the band one antennas moved from the forward mast to the 04 level platforms on the forward superstructure formerly occupied by the main antennas. This part of the conversion accounted for many of the new deck houses aft.

The CIWS were put into revetted enclosures to move much routine maintenance out of the weather. The aft "pagoda" structure was built to accomodate the relocated SLQ antenna and still providing good visibility for both systems.

The hangar was widened on the port sides, with Sonabouy storerooms added on the starboard side - so the outward appearance was balanced. Not all Spruances received this extra storage area on the starboard side(funding issue), but on the either ships the hangar dimensions were the same and could accommodate two SH-60 helos. Also the RAST system was added, which included the addition of the tracks to convey the SH-60 in and out of the hangar. Some of the first ships modified only received one track, unsure why.

That is it in a nutshell, there were only two decks unaffected, the NATO Seasparrow deck and the Harpoon deck.

[brandon]

Thanks for reply.e there any photo's available of her??

thanks and regards

Wim

According to Navysite.de, as of 2006, the Cushing is at the "Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in Pearl Harbor, HI", so its to the northwest of Ford Island.

[Tracy White]

Thanks for reply.e there any photo's available of her??

Have you looked?

[blandcorporation]

Brandon, aside from the article on the Cushing on navysite.de, I go the the official Navy website, navy.mil, and do a search for cushing in the Navy NewsStand photo galleries. Also i go to the The Defense Visual Information Center, http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/ but that site isnt working right now.

[blandcorporation]

Oh, and Charles, thanks for all that info. Now I know what I'm scratching. By the way, I took the hangar extensions off a Chandler Kidd class kit, as well as a couple additional deckhouses.

[Magnus]

In the Dragon kit of the Cushing, there are a number of decals that are not mentioned in the instructions. Quite a few of them are an 'E' with dashes.

What are these decals? Can I use them on my Cushing, and if, how?

/Magnus

[brandon]

Magnus

I haven't done it I just kept it on the instructions what they say as I am totally unknown in this class Its was my first one but like to build some more

Regards

Wim

In the Dragon kit of the Cushing, there are a number of decals that are not mentioned in the instructions. Quite a few of them are an 'E' with dashes.

What are these decals? Can I use them on my Cushing, and if, how?

/Magnus

[blandcorporation]

Theres an explanation here:

http://www.navysite.de/what/bridgewing.htm

[Tracy White]

On the way out to a client's office today I passed by Bremerton... stopped off by the side of the freeway and snapped this shot of an unknown Spru-Can:



Sad.....

[Seasick]

A Spruance DD with a Mk71 203mm/55 Major Caliber Light Weight Gun.

[jgrease]

Are there any websites with good-quality detail shots of ANY Spruance-class ship? I guess I got spoiled working on a Sovremenny - there were quite a few good walkarounds available. I've been to all of the standard websites, and most shots are full-length shots of the various ships in class. I'd like closer shots of the decks, structures, etc. Anyone have any ideas? BTW- the Defense Visual Info Centre has not been responding to qeries lately.

[Mac]

DVIC has problems every couple of weeks. I suggest you keep trying until it's back up. It has tons of Spruance class photos.

Mac

[Avery Boyer]

Tracy: that Spru-can is probably David R Ray.

[Seasick]

Spruance class DD with a scratch built 203mm Mk71 MCLWG on the bow.