NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Leftwich 1980

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
DD963	Spruance	4201	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	27.11.1972	10.11.1973	20.9.1975	stricken 3.2005
DD964	Paul F. Foster	4202	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	6.2.1973	23.2.1974	21.2.1976	stricken 4.2004
DD965	Kinkaid	4203	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	19.4.1973	25.5.1974	10.7.1976	stricken 4.2004
DD966	Hewitt	4204	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	23.7.1973	24.8.1974	25.9.1976	stricken 6.2002
DD967	Elliot	4205	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	15.10.1973	19.12.1974	22.1.1977	stricken 4.2004
DD968	Arthur W. Radford	4206	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	24.1.1974	1.3.1975	16.4.1977	stricken 4.2004
DD969	Peterson	4207	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	29.4.1974	21.6.1975	9.7.1977	stricken 11.2002
DD970	Caron	4208	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	1.7.1974	24.6.1975	1.10.1977	stricken 6.2002
DD971	David R. Ray	4209	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	23.9.1974	23.8.1975	19.11.1977	stricken 11.2002
DD972	Oldendorf	4210	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	27.12.1974	21.10.1975	4.3.1978	stricken 4.2004
DD973	John Young	4211	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	17.2.1975	7.2.1976	20.5.1978	stricken 11.2002
DD974	Comte de Grasse	4212	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	4.4.1975	26.3.1976	5.8.1978	stricken 6.1998
DD975	O'Brien	4213	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	9.5.1975	8.7.1976	3.12.1977	stricken 9.2004
DD976	Merrill	4214	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	16.6.1975	1.9.1976	11.3.1978	stricken 3.1998
DD977	Briscoe	4215	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	21.7.1975	15.12.1976	3.6.1978	stricken 4.2004
DD978	Stump	4216	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	25.8.1975	29.1.1977	19.8.1978	stricken 10.2004
DD979	Conolly	4217	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	29.9.1975	19.2.1977	14.10.1978	stricken 9.1998
DD980	Moosbrugger	4218	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	3.11.1975	23.7.1977	16.12.1978	stricken 4.2006
DD981	John Hancock	4219	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	16.1.1976	29.10.1977	10.3.1979	stricken 4.2006
DD982	Nicholson	4220	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	20.2.1976	11.11.1977	12.5.1979	stricken 4.2004
DD983	John Rodgers	4221	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	12.8.1976	25.2.1978	14.7.1979	stricken 9.1998
DD984	Leftwich	4222	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	12.11.1976	8.4.1978	25.8.1979	stricken 3.1998
DD985	Cushing	4223	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	27.12.1976	17.6.1978	21.9.1979	stricken 9.2005
DD986	Harry W. Hill	4224	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	3.1.1977	10.8.1978	17.11.1979	stricken 5.1998
DD987	O'Bannon	4225	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	21.2.1977	25.9.1978	15.12.1979	stricken 8.2005
DD988	Thorn	4226	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	29.8.1977	22.11.1978	16.2.1980	stricken 8.2004
DD989	Deyo	4227	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	14.10.1977	20.1.1979	22.3.1980	stricken 4.2004
DD990	Ingersoll	4228	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	5.12.1977	10.3.1979	12.4.1980	stricken 7.1998
DD991	Fife	4229	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	6.3.1978	1.5.1979	31.5.1980	stricken 4.2004
DD992	Fletcher	4230	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	24.4.1978	16.6.1979	12.7.1980	stricken 10.2004
DD997	Hayler	4801	Ingalls SB, Pascagoula (Litton Industries)	20.10.1980	2.3.1982	5.3.1983	stricken 4.2004

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	6156 light
Displacement full, t	8280
Length, m	161.3 wl 171.7 oa
Breadth, m	16.8
Draught, m	5.79 mean 8.84 over sonar dome
No of shafts	2
Machinery	4 General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines
Power, h. p.	86000
Max speed, kts	32.5
Fuel, t	gas turbine oil 1650
Endurance, nm(kts)	6000(20)
Armament	DD963-985: 1 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7), 1 x 8 ASROC ASuR (24 RUR-5), 2 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 45, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT (18), 1 SH-3 or 2 SH-2 helicopters DD986-992: 2 x 4 Harpoon SSM (8 RGM-84), 1 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7), 1 x 8 ASROC ASuR (24 RUR-5), 2 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 45, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT (18), 1 SH-3 or 2 SH-2 helicopters DD997: 2 x 4 Harpoon SSM (8 RGM-84), 1 x 8 Sea Sparrow SAM (24 RIM-7), 1 x 8 ASROC ASuR (24 RUR-5), 2 x 1 - 127/54 Mk 45, 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 x 3 - 324 Mk 32 TT (18), 1 SH-3 or 2 SH-2 helicopters
Electronic equipment	DD963-970: SPS-53, SPS-55, SPS-40B/C/D/E, SPQ-9A, SPG-60, Mk 91 radars, SQS-53A sonar, WLR-1 ECM suite, 4x Mk 33 decoy RLs DD971-975: LN-66, SPS-55, SPS-40B/C/D/E, SPQ-9A, SPG-60, Mk 91 radars, SQS-53A sonar, WLR-1, SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suites, 4x Mk 33 decoy RLs DD976-992: LN-66, SPS-55, SPS-40B/C/D/E, SPQ-9A, SPG-60, Mk 91 radars, SQS-53A sonar, SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suite, 4x Mk 33 decoy RLs DD997: LN-66, SPS-55, SPS-49(v)2, SPQ-9A, SPG-60, Mk 91, 2x Mk 90 radars, SQS-53A sonar, SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suite, 4x Mk 33 decoy RLs
Complement	353

Graphics

Project history

A contract for the development and production of thirty ships was awarded on 23 June 1970 to a new established by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries, Pascagoula, Mississippi. The entire class was contracted to a single shipyard to facilitate design and mass-production, but construction was delayed by labour and technical problems. These large destroyers were surely among the more controversial of recent US warships: they were usually described as too large and too poorly armed. In fact they were the direct consequence of an attempt to replace the mass of Second World War destroyers, which were nearing the end of their lives in the mid-1960s.

Initially, it was hoped that most of the ASW destroyers would be replaced by Knox class ocean escorts, and that the Navy would build a new class of missile destroyers to make up for the gap in such construction since the early 1960s, a gap caused largely by the failure of the Typhoon system planned for FY63 and later units. Analysis suggested, first, that it would be wise to seek maximum commonality between the ASW and missile units, and second, that although each carrier would require six escorts, only three would need anti-aircraft missile capability. In addition, Secretary McNamara strongly espoused a project system in which preliminary design would be done by a contractor.

One of the benefits of a common hull was that, if the air threat were to increase in the future, ASW ships could easily be refitted to meet it. Ultimately, relatively few ships could be ordered, none of them for air defence. However, the Spruance remained an anti-aircraft design with its missiles, radars and some of its computers never installed. To some extent, too, its large size was mandated by the requirement for 30kts in rough weather, a requirement of carrier operation.

Plans to install single lightweight 203mm/55 guns for amphibious fire support were cancelled in 1978, but the potential for major AA upgrade remains. Indeed, Iran ordered six (later reduced to four) anti-aircraft versions of the Spruance class in 1973-74. With the Iranian Revolution, they were offered for sale, and all four were purchased as the Kidd dass in July 1979, receiving DDG hull numbers in the Spruance series. As in the case of Virginia class cruisers, they have magazine stowage for 68 missiles, with two SPG-51D guidance radars plus an SPG-60. The greatly increased displacement of the Kidds is due in part to the addition of armour. A thirty-first Spruance, DD997, was authorised in FY78 with the proviso that it had increased helicopter facilities; however, she was identical to the 30 earlier ships already ordered, except for the provision of Kevlar armour and an SPS-49 air search radar. The Reagan Administration FY83-FY87 programme included three more ships of this type in FY86-FY87, out of a planned total of six. None was built.

Modernizations

late 1970s, Hewitt, Elliot, Arthur W. Radford, Peterson, Caron, David R. Ray, Oldendorf, John Young, Comte de Grasse, O'Brien, Merrill, Briscoe, Stump, Conolly, Moosbrugger, John Hancock, Nicholson; early 1980s, Spruance, Paul F. Foster, Kinkaid, John Rodgers, Leftwich, Cushing: + 2 x 4 Harpoon SSM (8 RGM-84)

late 1970s, Kinkaid; early 1980s, Elliot, Arthur W. Radford, Peterson, Caron, David R. Ray; late 1980s, Spruance, Paul F. Foster, Hewitt, Oldendorf, John Young, Comte de Grasse, O'Brien, Merrill, Briscoe, Stump, Conolly, Moosbrugger, John Hancock, Nicholson, John Rodgers, Leftwich, Cushing, Harry W. Hill, O'Bannon, Thorn, Deyo, Ingersoli, Fife, Fletcher: + 2 x 6 - 20/76 Mk 15 Phalanx, 2x Mk 90 radars

1981-1986, all: + Kevlar armour over vital spaces, T-Mk 6 Fanfare torpedo decoy

1984, Merrill; 1985, Comte de Grasse, Conolly, John Rodgers; 1986, Leftwich, Cushing, Deyo: + 2 x 4 Tomahawk CruM (8 RGM-109)

mid-1980s, all: - Mk 33 decoy RLs; + 4x Mk 137 decoy RLs (Mk 36 SRBOC system)

late 1980s, all: - WLR-1 and/or SLQ-32(v)2 ECM, T-Mk 6 torpedo decoy; + SLQ-32(v)2 ECM suite, SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy

early 1990s, Spruance, Paul F. Foster, Hewitt, Elliott, Arthur W. Radford, Peterson, Caron, David R. Ray, Oldendorf, John Young, O'Brien, Briscoe, Stump, John Hancock, Cushing, Harry W. Hill, O'Bannon, Ingersoll, Fife, Fletcher, Hayler; late 1990s, Kinkaid, Moosbrugger, Nicholson, Thorn: - 1 x 8 ASROC ASuR; + 1 x 61 Mk 41 VLS (61 Tomahawk RGM-109 CruM + ASROC RUM-139 ASuR)

early 1990s, all: + 4 x 1 - 12.7/90

early 1990s, Spruance, Paul F. Foster, Kinkaid, Hewitt, Elliot, Arthur W. Radford, Peterson, Caron, David R. Ray, Oldendorf, John Young, Comte de Grasse, O'Brien, Merrill, Briscoe, Stump, Conolly, Moosbrugger, John Hancock, Nicholson, John Rodgers, O'Bannon, Deyo, Fife, Hayler; late 1990s, Cushing, Thorn, Fletcher: + Mk 23 Mod. 0 TAS radar

early 1990s, Comte de Grasse, Conolly, Fletcher, Hayler; late 1990s, Peterson, Oldendorf, Merrill, Briscoe, Stump, Nicholson, John Rodgers, Cushing, O'Bannon, Deyo, Ingersoll: - (1- 2) SH-2D/F helicopters; + (1 - 2) SH-60B helicopters, helicopter magazines were altered to accommodate Penguin Mk 2 Mod. 7 ASM

early 1990s, Spruance, Paul F. Foster, Kinkaid, Hewitt, Elliot, Arthur W. Radford, Caron, David R. Ray, John Young, Comte de Grasse, O'Brien, Briscoe, Stump, Conolly, Moosbrugger, John Hancock, O'Bannon, Fife, Fletcher, Hayler; late 1990s, Peterson, Oldendorf, Nicholson, Cushing, Thorn Deyo, Fletcher: +SQR-19A/B TASS sonar (with SQS-53A completing SSQ-89 suite)

early 1990s, Peterson, John Young, Merrill, Briscoe, Stump, Conolly, John Rodgers, Hayler; late 1990s, Spruance, Paul F. Foster, Kinkaid, Elliot, Oldendorf, Moosbrugger, Nicholson, Cushing, O'Bannon, Thorn, Deyo, Fletcher: - SLQ-32(v)2 ECM; + SLQ-32(v)3 ECM

1996, Deyo: - 2 x 4 Tomahawk CruM (8 RGM-109), 1 x 8 ASROC ASuR; + 1 x 61 Mk 41 VLS (45 Tomahawk RGM-109 CruM + 16 ASROC RUM-139 ASuR)

late 1990s, Oldendorf, John Young, BBriscoe, Nicholson, O'Bannon, Fletcher: + 1 x 21 RAM SAM (21 RIM-116A)

late 1990s, some ships: + 2 x 1 - 25/87 Mk 88 Bushmaster

late 1990s, some ships: - SLQ-25 torpedo decoy; + SLQ-25A torpedo decoy

late 1990s, all: - SPS-53 or LN-66 radar; + SPS-64(V)9 radar, SLQ-49 floating radar reflector buoys

late 1990s, John Young: - SPQ-9A radar; + SPQ-9B radar

late 1990s, all survived had SSQ-89(v)5.6.8 sonar suite (SQS-53B/C hull-mounted sonar + SQR-19(V)3 or SQR-19A(V)3 or SQR-19B(V) TACTAS)

Naval service

No significant events.