Raymond Ames Spruance

Admiral Spruance was born July 3, 1886 in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the Unites States Naval Academy, graduating with the class of 1907.

Prior to Being promoted to flag rank in 1940, Admiral Spruance commanded several destroyer type ships. His first command, USS BAINBRIDGE (DD-1) was the first ship designated a destroyer in the US Navy. He later commanded destroyers AARON WARD, PERCIVAL, DALE, OSBORNE and battleship MISSISSIPPI. During the late 20's and 30's, Admiral Spruance served for six years on the staff of the Naval War College, where he developed many of the tactics he later employed as a fleet commander during the Second World War.

Admiral Spruance first distinguished himself as a tactician and strategist when he defeated the Japanese carrier forces at the battle of Midway in June, 1942. Alternating command of the Pacific Fifth Fleet during World War II with Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Admiral Spruance's tactical brilliance was repeatedly displayed during the invasions of the Gilbert, Marshall and Marianas Islands and during the capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

At the close of World War II, Admiral Spruance served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT) for six months. From 1946 until his retirement in 1948, he realized one of his long standing service ambitions--he became President of the naval War College in Newport, RI. In this position he was largely responsible for updating and revitalizing the curriculum and methods of study at the College.

Admiral Spruance was called out of retirement by the President in 1952 to become Ambassador to the Philippines. He served as Ambassador until 1955 when he returned to his home on the Monterey Peninsula in California. Admiral Spruance died in 1969.

USS SPRUANCE

The SPRUANCE class of destroyers were designed in theh late sixties as a follow-on to the CHARLES F ADAMS class if destroyers. Ingalls Shipbuilding was awarded the contract, and the first ship and namesake of the class was ordered in June 1970. It's keel was laid in November of 1972 and was launched 12 months later.

The crew began to assemble in the ship's homeport at the NOB in Norfolk, VA in June of 1974 with delivery originally scheduled for October of 74. Delays caused the delivery to slip to July 75. However, a drydock accident nearly destroyed the Navy's first gas turbine destroyer and her delivery was delayed even further. Read more here:

Disaster!

Disaster strikes!

next