The USS Spruance

The USS Spruance follows in line design-wise with other Arleigh Burke-class vessels. She sports a well-contoured hull with the bow raised slightly ahead. The major internal sections are concentrated along amidships and include the bridge, communications facilities and turbine smoke stacks (the Spruance is a conventionally-powered naval vessel). The sides of the vessel 's superstructure area are fused into the hull sides to promote inherent stealth characteristics against scanning surface radar - a common design element in modern surface ships. The stern area of the vessel can accept or launch helicopters as needed while an onboard hangar supports their operation. The main mast atop the major superstructure is home to a plethora of antenna, communications and sensor systems pertinent to her operating facilities. A deck gun is fitted ahead of the bridge superstructure along the forecastle.

The USS Spruance (DDG-111) is the latest in the long line of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers numbering some 62-strong. Specifically, the Spruance is categorized as a "guided missile destroyer" due to her extensive missile-launching capabilities. In an era prior, destroyers were principally guided in battle by their projectile-launching guns and torpedo facilities but technology has since evolved the type to included guided missile weaponry. The Spruance still retains projectile-minded and torpedo weaponry though these are now regarded as secondary weapons complementing the primary missile loadout. The defense contract for her construction was awarded to Bath Iron Works (Bath, Maine USA) on September 13th, 2002. She was laid down on May 14th, 2009 and officially christened on June 5th, 2010. She was formally launched on June 6th, 2010 and is expected to be commissioned on October 1st, 2011. On September 1st, 2011, the USS Spruance left Bath, Maine for her commissioning ceremony to be held at Key West, Florida.
　　
As completed, the USS Spruance is armed with a bevy of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air guided missiles. The missiles can engage airborne threats as well as naval vessels as needed. The missiles are stored and launched in vertically-set "cells" - one 64-cell collection and another 32-cell arrangement - numbering 96 missiles in all of various types. These include the venerable BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile to be used against land-based targets, the RIM-66 SM medium range surface-to-air missile for use against aerial threats, the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-range surface-to-air anti-aircraft missile and the RUM-138 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missile. The missile suite is the primary line of defense/offense for the vessel. Close-in threats are dealt with the 5-inch (127mm)/62 caliber Dual Purpose deck gun as well as 2 x 25mm cannons. Up to 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns defend the crew from even closer threats requiring automatic fire. There are 2 x Mk 46 series triple torpedo tubes. The electronic warfare suite consists of an AN/SLQ-32(V)2 series Electronic Warfare System intended to counter any incoming threat or engage on an offensive basis. The Spruance is crewed by 260 officers and enlisted personnel with maximum facilities able to house up to 30 officers and 282 enlisted personnel.

The USS Spruance displaces at 9,200 tons, features a running length of 510 feet, a beam of 66 feet and a draught of 33 feet. Power is supplied by a quad-pairing of General Electric LM2500-30 gasoline turbines delivering up to 100,000 shaft horsepower to twin shafts. Top speeds in ideal sea conditions is just over 30 knots while ranges are in excess of 4,400 nautical miles.

The USS Spruance is cleared to operate up to two Sikorsky SH-60 Sea Hawk navalized helicopters or similar rotary-wing aircraft from her stern flight deck. A hangar allows for scheduled maintenance of said helicopters as well as for at-sea repairs. Sea Hawks are multi-mission helicopters utilized by the United States Navy and based on the US Army UH-60 Black Hawk model - both originally of the Sikorsky S-70 model family. Beyond typical navy-type improvements brought about by exposure to the salty sea and heavy duty on-deck work, the SH-60 Sea Hawk sports a hinged tail section which allows for improved storage aboard the vessel.