Calling all Spruance-class DD fans

[Charles Landrum]

AWR was in the Atlantic Fleet her entire life.

[USN_Matt]

Thank you! But do you happen to know which task force she was in? I am planning on building other ships she served with.

[Cliffy B]

Thank you! But do you happen to know which task force she was in? I am planning on building other ships she served with.

Scroll down to the 2000 entry and you'll see she was assigned to Eisenhower CVBG with a list of the entire group.

http://www.navysite.de/cvn/cvn69deploy.htm

Here's a shot of her underway during that cruise with the USS Mahan (DDG-72) astern of her.

http://www.navysite.de/dd/dd968_3.jpg

[USN_Matt]

Yeah, AWR served in the Destroyer Squadron 26 along with Uss Mahan, Uss Laboon, Uss Barry, and Uss Kauffman

[walkerusn]

Hello, USS Cushing DD 985 was sunk in July 2008 as part of Fleet exercises known as RIMPAC. In addition, another spruance class destroyer, USS Fletcher DD 992 was also sunk a couple of days later. You can view some pictures and information by visiting http://www.dd992.org. C E Walker

I am brandnew in this part of modelling. I just bought a 4 weeks ago my first USS Cushing of Dragon after 46years not modelling. I love this type very much and in the meantime I was able to buy via e bau a few more

Can somebody tell me what is happened with the USS Cushing I saw it was decommisioned somewere in 2005 but after that??

I hope that we will have all together a mutual contact

regards

Wim

PS I live in the Belgium Ardennes far away from the sea but were 62 years ago was a hard fight with allied forces and the germans I just live in the centre were it was an d our village was made free by the british on her way down to la Roche to assist the usa soldiers

[ex-navy]

After the Navy removed the 26 foot mwb for the RHIB... Did these ships keep the CPT GIG????

[Charles Landrum]

The Gig was retained while the Motor Whaleboat was replaced by the RHIB.

[Solicitr]

During my time in the Canoe Club ('79-'86) the Spru-cans (in fact all surface combatants other than the nukes) had the masts above stack level painted black. More recent photos show them haze gray right to the top. When did they change?

[Robin]

During my time in the Canoe Club ('79-'86) the Spru-cans (in fact all surface combatants other than the nukes) had the masts above stack level painted black. More recent photos show them haze gray right to the top. When did they change?

Mid 90s after the first Gulf War.

[Charles Landrum]

The directive was issued in late 1990 or in 1991. It was a countermeasure to reduce the visual signatures of the ships. I have the message somewhere in my files. There were several problems with converting to this low vis scheme. First the gray for the bow numerals were scarce. The other issue was that the black on the upper macks/stacks was heat resistant black. The heat resistant haze gray was slow to get on the stock shelves. The other change at that time was the phase out of zinc chromate as a shipboard primer, which was found to be a heavy metal hazard like lead and mercury.

[navydavesof]

The directive was issued in late 1990 or in 1991. It was a countermeasure to reduce the visual signatures of the ships.

That is very fascinating. The color change is I have wondered about for a long time. A number of my 600-ship fleet co-workers have told me that for several years you could tell which ships were PAC and which were ATL, because the grey stack caps and masts were tested on the west coast and when approved made it to the east coast. I have noticed that they bounce back and forth between haze grey and a slightly-darker than haze grey for masts and stack caps. For instance, one of the DDGs here in Yokosuka has these slightly darker than haze and one is haze. (Here's a secret!!! The slgihtly darker than haze is something I am going to incorporate onto my modernized Iowa.)
I would LOVE to see that message issued in 1990 or 1991.

[navydavesof]

After conversing with the operator of navweaps, we were able to find a whole lot more information on the Mk71. Check out the page if you want to read some more of the information we uncovered.
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_8-55_mk71.htm
The 8inch magazine capacity built into the Spruance-class Destroyers. I think many would find this very interesting.

The planned ammunition stowage for the Spruance class (DD-963) was as follows:

The first platform magazine (Fr. 77-94) held 129 ballistic projectiles, 119 standard propellant charges and 32 reduced charges.
The second platform magazine (Fr. 58-94) held 256 ballistic projectiles, 266 standard propellant charges, 40 Guided Projectile (GP) charges and 24 clearing charges.

The third platform magazine (Fr. 58-94) held 40 guided projectiles.

Including the ready service drum, the total ammunition stowage was 500 projectiles (ballistic and guided) and 556 propellant charges (standard, reduced, clearing and GP).

This arrangement fits in a vertical slot known as a "B-weapons Module". This is the same size as a Mk41 61/64-cell VLS arrangement.

[Guest]

I served on the Obrien (975) during the first gulf war. I was on board from 90 - 94. It made me (suprisingly) very sad to learn she was now a reef off the coast of Hawaii.
Of course there were some "not so fun" times, but all in all I find I miss those days more than I regret them.

God Bless
Dave

[navydavesof]

It made me (suprisingly) very sad to learn she was now a reef off the coast of Hawaii.

yeah, no huh? The Spruance-class was the only class of modern ship that was destroyed instead of being preserved in the mothball fleet, especially before most of them had even reached the perspective ends of their service lives.

It makes one wonder if the rumors are true that the Spruances were destroyed on purpose in an attempt to force the Congress into funding a massive DDG-1000 and LCS buy. If it's true or not that is exactly what it did.

But intent aside, the surface ASW capability has faltered quite a bit since the focused ASW capability was removed. The Navy has learned that over the last 10 years without a focused ASW platform around that Aegis ships running ASW duty is not nearly as effective, because they are always distracted with AAW and BMD missions. No matter the equipment you have, even the most awesome of awesome SQQ-89(v)15, focused practice is always the key to proficiency. From the Ticonderogas to the Burkes, despite our efforts to shift ASW around the battle group so "everyone can have a piece of the pie", Aegis ships continue to demonstrate that they can't train as they need to in order to be as proficient as they need to be.

The answer is another ASW focused ship like the Spruance.

[Robin]

It made me (suprisingly) very sad to learn she was now a reef off the coast of Hawaii.

yeah, no huh? The Spruance-class was the only class of modern ship that was destroyed instead of being preserved in the mothball fleet, especially before most of them had even reached the perspective ends of their service lives.

It makes one wonder if the rumors are true that the Spruances were destroyed on purpose in an attempt to force the Congress into funding a massive DDG-1000 and LCS buy. If it's true or not that is exactly what it did.

But intent aside, the surface ASW capability has faltered quite a bit since the focused ASW capability was removed. The Navy has learned that over the last 10 years without a focused ASW platform around that Aegis ships running ASW duty is not nearly as effective, because they are always distracted with AAW and BMD missions. No matter the equipment you have, even the most awesome of awesome SQQ-89(v)15, focused practice is always the key to proficiency. From the Ticonderogas to the Burkes, despite our efforts to shift ASW around the battle group so "everyone can have a piece of the pie", Aegis ships continue to demonstrate that they can't train as they need to in order to be as proficient as they need to be.

The answer is another ASW focused ship like the Spruance.

navydavesof,
Dead on with the ASW. Aegis ships are design to play in the AAW world with ASW being a second player. Not only did the Navy lose ASW with Spruance but the Knox class too. Knox class were great ASW platforms for the Battle Group. It goes back to the Navy losing focus on the High to Low end mix of building warships. Also the Govt cutting all of the Services during the 90s. Now Aegis is great but ASW is a whole different animal that reguires just forcused ASW ships. Last down sizing of crews hurt the proficiency of working multable missions at one time. Less people eqauls less proficiency in all warfare areas.

[jmilburn0]

Well, for $59.95 (plus sales tax if shipped to a California address) you can have your own author-inscribed (blush) Electronic Greyhounds, with the histories of the DDH 997 design, the DD 963 class, the DDG 993 class, and the CG 47 class. PM me if interested.

I am currently searching for a copy of this book, do you know if this offer is still good?

[Michael Potter]

Well, for $59.95 (plus sales tax if shipped to a California address) you can have your own author-inscribed (blush) Electronic Greyhounds, with the histories of the DDH 997 design, the DD 963 class, the DDG 993 class, and the CG 47 class. PM me if interested.

I am currently searching for a copy of this book, do you know if this offer is still good?

Thanks but it is sold out. The last new copy known to me was sold in 2008.

[navydavesof]

I am currently searching for a copy of this book, do you know if this offer is still good?

Hey, jmilburn0,

http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Greyho ... 042&sr=8-1

I bought CAPT Potter's book on amazon a year or so ago. I fought over it for a while, because it's so expensive, and as it turns out so rare, but it's worth it.

If you want some really good insight about the Sprucans, please make the investment in Electronic Greyhounds by CAPT Michael Potter. It's really, really cool.

[Guest]

Hello All, Does anyone have the instructions for the 1/350 MiniHobbyModels USS Spruance that they could scan and send to me as a pdf?

I have the model, but unfortunately no instructions!I could probably figure it out from reference pics, but the masts look a bit complex! My e-mail address is: bitalif@hotmail.com. Thank you!

Andrew

[maxim]

For a IG Waterline group built I want to built USS Fletcher in her 2002 fit.

Which kit you consider the best way to start with? The Dragon kit has to be modified, e.g. the enlarged hangar, modified Phalanx positions, RAM launcher (see this post) etc.

Did someone tried one of the Fujimi kits of the Spruance class? They appear to be in the right fit, but the details would have to be replaced anyway.