Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Destroyer Joins The Fleet

The granddaughter of a great World War II commander,Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance,participated in the sunset commissioning of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer,the USS Spruance(DDG 111),on Saturday 1 October in Key West,Florida.Ellen Spruance Holscher,Sponsor of the new ship,ordered the 285-member crew to man the ship and bring her to life,at which they ran up the gangways in their dress whites.Ms.Holscher had also taken part in the ship's christening on 5 June,helping to smash a bottle of champagne against the bow.
General Dynamics built the warship at its Bath Iron Works in Maine.Commander Tate Westbrook is her commanding officer.
The ship is armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles;a 5-inch gun;25mm machine gun;and torpedo tubes.It also carries two MH60-R helicopters.
Admiral Spruance led naval forces in the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Several other of this type of destroyer are under construction or in the planning phase.

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