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Phase I training involved the crew in familiarization of the new ship's systems and giving them a thorough shakedown. "Working out all the bugs!" The ship also had to be certified to carry helicopters. The junior seamen and officers were busy working on the qualifications within their rating and at their battle stations. It was a busy time. This period also meant a trip to GITMO. The Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay (GITMO), Cuba, is the Navy's battle readiness training facility. Prior to going to GITMO, the SPRUANCE stopped at FT Lauderdale to get ready for ASROC and torpedo exercises at the AUTEC range in the "Tongue of the Ocean" in the Bahamas. The days at GITMO were long. Up at the wee hours of the morning, underway before the Sun was up. A day filled with battle exercises, then back along the peer after sundown. It was a grueling exercise. A trip to Port au Prince, Haiti was the crew's only break. The SPRUANCE's shakedown cruise proceeded well, and by Christmas of '75 the ship returned home to Norfolk. The ship returned to FT Lauderdale following its holiday standdown, and set a new ASROC launch record at the AUTEC range. From there it was on to the Navy's base at Roosevelt Roads, PR. This meant more battle exercises, Naval Gun Fire Support training at the Vieques Island firing range, and a shock test. The latter meant subjecting the ship to powerful blasts to test her ability to take shock and keep fighting. At the conclusion of this training period, the ship was treated to a visit to San Juan, PR, then headed back to Charleston, SC. The ship was subjected to a materiel inspection, readiness inspection and more engineering trials before heading back to Pascagoula, MS in March '76. Her shakedown period complete! At Pascagoula the Spruance underwent minor repairs (a cracked hull from the shock test), and several modifications. The most significant of these was the addition of a towed sonar array system and NATO Sea Sparrow missile system. The SPRUANCE rejoined the fleet, ready for action in May. The Spruance was assigned to the USS AMERICA's (CVA 66) carrier battle group. Her first battle exercise was in the Virginia Capes Naval Operations Area, off Cape Hatteras. The ship next reported to the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard for more yard work. The battle group left for Europe in the winter of '76 to take part in the OCEAN SAFARI naval exercises, but without the SPRUANCE. A bent propeller shaft meant a trip to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and another stint in dry-dock. The shaft was quickly replaced in a matter of days, and the SPRUANCE made her way across "the pond" to catch up with the battle group at Lisbon, Portugal. The SPRUANCE let it be known she was a greyhound and made the trip in 3 days. Along the way, the Soviets intercepted the SPRUANCE with a long range bomber, a TU-64 "Bear." The SPRUANCE would take part in NATO exercises, working along side the Canadians, English, German and Dutch navies. A transit of the English Channel, the Kattegat and Skagarrak put the SPRUANCE in the Baltic. The operations conducted in the Baltic were an extreme test of the ship's seaworthiness. The wave height was 60', which meant periods of heavy pitches and rolls. The designed roll limit is 55°, and many roles in excess of 45° were experienced. The bow spent much time underwater, and our props saw daylight with each heavy pitch, making the ship shudder |