Let’s not forget about the 4 Kidd class destroyers which were a variant of the Spruance that did have air defense and were later sold to Taiwan also the Navy at one point were considering upgrading the Spruance class to the Kidd class standards but that never happened instead they replaced them with Arleigh Burkes

I was on one . Roomy , my buddies on Perry FF's and old DDG's(Stoddard, Strauss) were cramped . Plenty of space to get away from people on Sprucans . I was a STG and the nixie space was a good hiding spot . Open the nixie doors and chill . Up by the aft stack was another good spot . I fell short of being an 4.0 sailor lol .

Early 1970's onboard HMAS Onslow we were tasked to intercept and track USN task force visiting Australia We sat off F for several days listening for the fleet and then one day we heard a very week SQS sonar with its signature worbles .We went sound that sound over a couple days and found the fleet which included the US Enterpise and its defence group Our skipper got us under the Enterprise and took photos of her screws .As a young sonar operator at the time it was one of the most wonderful and fulfilling moments of my life Thats for your channel really enjoy it Cheers Gary

The Kidd class was actually what the Navy intended the Spruance class to look like sporting two universal missiles launchers capable of firing Standard missiles as well as Asrocs.

We replaced the turbines through the top of the intakes. After the hole was cut for the first one, the top was bolted back on. 32kts going downhill..... I don't think so. They were fast and we exceeded that 32+ on quite a few occasions.

I had some NATO submariners described being tracked by a Spruance sonar in Bottom Bounce Track mode like being inside a metal trashcan while someone wailed on it with a baseball.bat.

I was a sonar tech aboard the USS Kinkaid (DD-965) from 1985-1989. *salute* to my shipmates

Love to see one on Knox-Class, a friend I work for served on three different Knox class, and was Captain of the USS Robert E Peary FF-1073.

I didn't hear any mention of USS Moosbrugger in the narrative. For one of her early cruises, she was host to an experiment/trial to see how good a Spruance could be against Soviet subs. Some of the personnel were hand-picked for the deployment, including some from the Intelligence Specialist, Aerographer's Mate, Sonarman, Torpedoman, Electronics Techs, Radiomen and even Communications Techs. One can only speculate what kind of evaluation a spooky group like this was all about, but the 'Moose' apparently raised the bar, becoming especially well known for prosecuting contacts with long-range detections coming from her towed array. She was in some demand after that, showing up in some NATO operations, disappearing on independent ops that nobody would talk about and even getting a mention in a Clancy book. I guess that's when you know word about you is getting around. So here's to the 'Moose', and showing 'em how it's done.

Costs skyrocketing on a military project? Inconceivable!

In 83 I worked on DD-963, I helped build the frame and ammo shack for the Phalanx systems install. She was a real badass. I was an apprentice welder at NNSY then.

Negative on the changing engines through the smoke stacks. They cut holes in the side of the hull and changed them in our overhaul in 1991 at Ingall’s Shipyard in Goula. USS Peterson DD-969 The Proud Pete

The Spruances were great ships and I was counting on all of them to get the Mk41 VLS. It was said the Russians were shocked at seeing the Spru-cans and they developed the Udaloys as "Spruance-Clones". The one Spru-can I was stationed aboard was USS Conoly (DD-979). We still had the Tomahawk box launchers, with the ASROC launcher was removed. You forgot to mention the four Kidd-class (DDG-993), which almost went to the Iranians. They were sometimes called the Iyatollah class (I hope I spelled that right), and they were sold to Taiwan.

I served on The Moosbruger DD-980 for 30 days TAD while waiting on my 1st submarine to come to port.

Served onboard USS Caron as an STG from oct 87 to sept 89. Was part of the crew and onboard during the Black Sea incident. Very tense several hours. I was not a pipelined STG so I ended up with AN/SQS 53B "C" school. Only pipeliners got 53C school. Great vid brings back lots of memories.

I served on USS O'Bannon (DD-987), USS Yorktown (CG-48), & USS McInerney (FFG-8). You mention the SQS and SQR sonar systems. Not all Spru-cans were equipped with the SQR system. The SQS system was all but useless in sub hunting. Our port & starboard lookouts found more subs that the SQS system ever did. Later in life, the SQR was installed and we could find shrimp at 50 mile range. You also mention 20 minute startup; that was only after warming lube oil for the shafts. Top speed O'Bannon achieved was still classified last time I seen her and it was above 32 you have mentioned. It was achieved after a challenge from a British DD we were running with at the time. We smoked them ! ! ! O'Bannon was equipped with a Faruno nav radar and not the SPS-64. An interesting note on CIC, the Navy visited the set of the original Star Trek bridge. The TAO (Tactical Actions Officer) could see every sensor output either directly or by turning the chair slightly (including who may be entering or leaving CIC.

Regarding the 5" gun comments at the start of the video - The British used even smaller guns to GREAT effect in the Falklands war, their 4.5" guns put on some pretty impressive shore bombardment/Naval gunfire support episodes in various actions. GREAT episode Aaron, I can't wait for more "Ship" briefs in addition to the sub briefs. Such a huge amount of ships I want you to lecture on!

Good looking ships, retired too early...

A couple of points about the SLAM/SLAM-ER brought to you by the same DCS Hornet drivers who corrected me on it: The SLAM was employed in practice, we have confirmation of 3 being used during the gulf war and the ER in SLAM-ER stands for Expanded Response, not Extended Range, as the package brings a heck of a lot more to the table then just extra range in terms of electronic capabilities (both in terms of resistance and datalink range), but also navigation and pathfinding, ER's can accept waypoints exactly the same way tomahawks can. It's also (subjectively and I am biased) the most fun weapon to use in DCS with the Hornet because of this, I just long for the day when we can plug in coordinates from the map and pre plan them instead of smashing it in on the keypad one by one, soon, they tell us, soon, "just two more weeks™"

My Stepfather was a Signalman on the USS. Oldendorf DD-972 1983-1984 and I got to go aboard her several times! To a 5-6 year old kid, she was a beautiful ship!!!!!! Great breakdown! Thanks. Brought back some great memories!

I served on the Nasty Nick. USS Nicholson DD 982. From 1993 to 1995. She was a good ship.

Do a crazy video about L Ron Hubbards Navy career.

They were sometimes called 'cruise ships' because of the lack of visible armament, especially compared to Soviet ships which fairly bristled with weaponry. The counter argument was that the US systems were more reliable and efficient, and that the Sovs carried a lot of weapons 'in hope that something would work'. In the mid-'70s, I saw a poster in an NROTC office that said, "When you're out of FRAMs, you're out of cans", comparing WWII refurb ships to the new, spacious SPRUANCEs.

I don't know where you're getting some of your information from, but you're putting out some incorrect info. The two armored box launchers for Tomahawk were operational, not for testing. The ship is a DD, not a DDG. I was on USS Deyo, when I got on board we had the ASROC launcher with one armored box launchers on either side of it for the Tomahawk and mount 51, the forward five in mount. After I left they removed the ASROC and box launchers and installed Mk 41 VLS. And no, you could not sit up in your rack.

It's a shame that the 24 members of this Spruance class, which had been upgraded with Mark 41 VLS tubes, were retired early. It would be nice if all of our carriers and LHD ships were escorted by one. You'll be even better if they've been upgraded to fire quad packed ESSM from 12 or 16 VLS tubes and reserved to the rest for a handful of VL-ASROC and 30 Tomahawks.

Loved those ships. Did 3 cruises on DD-972 USS Oldendorf.

I was on the uss Hewitt DD 966 from 89 to 93 we fired tomahawks in January of 93. We conducted ship boarding operations in 91in the red sea

Was on the USS Caron DD-970 from 88 to 91. Had the ASROC launcher when I first got on board and went to the yards for the VLS refit. One of the yard workers left the blueprints and schematics in my space for the VLS system. Found them on a weekend doing rounds and took them to the Capt. Lets say it was not a good day for the shipyard staff and admin. lol That picture from the Black Sea indent is from the Caron not the Ticonderoga. You can see our DESRON 10 plate on the bulkhead from the port side bridge-wing. The Ticonderoga bridge was much higher and you wouldn't get a full side view of the ship from theirs as well as I don't recall the CGs ever having the squadron plates on their ships. I also reported on board after this incident so I heard all the stories over and over. :)

thanks so much... I was on board the Kinkaid. couple things. first. she was faster than 32, or as you said "33 Kts" going down hill. secondly. I was surprised how there was very little mention about its amazing maneuverability. everything else. was very accurate.

I served on the Ingersoll DD990. Was there when we had a Collision in 1992.

Not all Tomahawk boxed Spruances were replaced by VLS. USS LEFTWICH DD-984 was the first ship to battle reload Tomahawks, during the Gulf War.

I really like SQS-53C bow mounted sonar which also continues to the Arleigh Burke DDGs, not only it acts as Sonar but also as Bulbous bow which reduce slamming and also The bulb modifies the way the water flows around the hull, reducing drag and thus increasing speed, range, fuel efficiency, and stability. Really nice touch by the USN.

I served on the USS Kinkaid DD965 from 1977-1980. I loved living on this ship and I still miss it all these years later.

Really enjoy your Soruence Brief. I was a civilian marine piping designer at Ingalls. Started at ingall in 82. Worked on Spruence, Kidd, Ticondaroga class as well as several other classes. Got away from them around 88. Ive long since retired. Abt a year ago i was looking the Spruence up to see what came of them. Sad to read they are sunk. No museum ship. Anyway, thanks to all of you who served on those ships. I cant say enough.

I remember the Foster sharing the San Diego pier and West Packs with us on the Bainbridge in the 70s. Impressive new kid on the block.

966 was my favourite 😁

These destroyers were simply wonderful, it would be good to convince the navy to rebuild the same ships but with an improved variant equal to or superior to the Burke class, in my opinion the Spruance class and the Tico class are eternal ships that are worth an evolution of They are my humble opinion, I have to hope that the high command of the navy can read and consider the words of this server

I served onboard DD-987 and DD-980. LPO for both MER 1 and 2 on both. I was asked by the CO to ensure the Mains were ready because we were anchored at Split Yugoslavia. I told him that I could get a Main ready in 30 secs, ready to roll the shaft. We had the MER's manned and all equipment was at operating temp and ready to GO.

Hey there Jive! Great video. Have been working in various capacities in the Ingalls Shipbuilding facility for about 15 years now. Heard about these from a few co-workers that were around when these were being built. Love learning about the ships made there before my time and the current programs I work on. Keep'em coming, skipper!

I was on a Knox class frigate in GITMO for REFTRA prior to deploying. We were on water rationing the entire time in port because most of the fresh water we made had to go to the boilers. The Spruance class DD across the pier from us had electric evaps like the subs. We would watch them come out and do a fresh water washdown of all topside weapons every morning, and when they bathed they would take hollywood showers. etc. And when you entered their berthing compartment they would be so cold your breath would frost and they would be using blankets. On my frigate you had 30 sec to get wet in the shower, then apply your soap and shampoo and lather up. Then you had 90 seconds to rinse it all off. We had no ac in the berthing compartments, and as soon as you finished your shower, you were sweaty again.

Asroc is actually an Australian designed weapon. We call it Ikara. The Americans loved the idea and offered us 4 new destroyers and a large sum of cash. The Australian government said NO. The Americans said, Well, we'll just build it ourselves. Australian politicians stuffed up again. What did they think the response would be? We could have doubled our destroyer squadron if we'd kept the pollies out of it.

Lots of good information. Some of it is incorrect suchas the hull number of Arthur W. Radford is DD 968. I spent several years on the Radford and we never had a towed sonar array installed. That mission was left to the Perry class. A Spru-can with a towed array seems like a waste to me. Dragging an array around at 5 knots isn't what it was designed for. Frigates, helos, S3 Viking, P3 Orions or other assets would make initial contact and then call on us to pounce on it. There's still a lot about the Spruance class that is still classified including differences between each ship within the class beyond what you noted. Overall a good presentation 👌 👏

Your KZfaq documentaries are wonderful with great insight information I think we are very lucky to have you give us your insight regarding these navel stories and submarine documentation. Best regards, Greg / Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Excellent analysis and presentation! Former 80's Navy vet!

I became extremely giddy when I saw you released this bit about the Sprucan. I served aboard the CARON DD970 (pronounced Karen) as my first sea command. Loved every minute of it and was heart broken when we decommed her in 2001. The Sprucan's top speed was a lot faster than 32 kts. I remember steaming South along the East Coast and passing cars on US 1. Every time I hear Frankie Valli's Can't take my eyes off you, I flash back to laying in my rack in Operations berthing, covering my head with my pillow thinking, "Oh my God, please make it stop." (If you know, you know). No, you can not sit up in your rack, unless you were on a top bunk and then you had to watch out for pipes and duct work. CIC changed significantly since that photo was taken. The OOD is on the bridge, that seat would be for the TAO/Captain. That suction effect is known as the Venturi effect and I have seen first hand what it can do to ships, especially during a RAS. That pic of the Russian ramming, is actually of the CARON. You can tell because the Harpoons were mounted on the 03 weather deck on Sprucans, and on the fantail on TICO's. Oh, and your information on the CARON's sinking is wrong though. She was accidentally sunk off the coast of PR during some experimental DC equipment testing. Needless to say, the experimental equipment failed. A little history about the CARON. CWO John Walker was her RMC and CMS custodian in the late 70's. Part of his demise was after he PCS'ed, the CARON went into the yards and they found several burn bags FULL of material, that was signed off as being destroyed, stashed under deck plates, behind lagging, and AC ducting.

33:41 You could not "sit" in your rack and read, at least on the bottom two. If you laid in your rack with your elbow on the mattress, your fingertips (pointed up) touched the rack above.

When you were covering the 60 and 9 radar, the 60 role was not defined correctly. The 60 was a separate doppler radar for AAW only. It was separate from the 9 even though they both got feed into the Video Processer in DPC. The 9 would track all surface and low flyers. FC1, MK86 Data and Display tech (NEC1129) and also a MK86 C school instructor. USS Cushing DD-985 and FTC San Diego. Also, in CIC, the main chair is for the TAO, not the CO. Overall a good video, it sure brought back a lot memories for me. Thanks so much!

I served on USS Kinkaid DD 965 1987-89. Spent 17 of 24 months in NASSCO Shipyard in San Diego...

Top quality work sir! As usual, nobody compares to Sub Brief when it comes to the facts and your personal experience is so eye opening!

USS Peterson DD-969 "Proud Pete". 2/78 - 7/81, missed being in the commissioning crew by about 6 mos. So many 1st for the Proud Pete. Sep 79 - detected the 1st Soviet Echo II Class Sub in about 10 years - disabled on the surface the night we transited across the Gulf of Aden north of the Socotra anchourage...yes we used our SPS-64 commercial radar in emcon that night to sneak up to them and yes on day 3 when we finally detached from our intel gathering we slammed them with the SQS 53 at full power and narrowest beam width...oh my 😯but that's what we did in the Cold War!

An outstanding presentation as usual. Thank you.

Enjoyed the brief and attention to detail. Very satisfying Sir. Looking forward to more...

Loved this one, served aboard the Conolly in 1981. By the way, her hull number was DD-979. You listed that hull as the Radford, a different class ship altogether (38:54). Not trying to be too picky, just letting you know.... maybe I'm just misunderstanding something. Love these ship briefs, it brings everything together for a one-stop-shop. Thanks for taking care of the "heavy work!"

My father served on one of these when I was young. I still have fond memories of the enlisted mans mess back when they used to allow the sailors to bring their kids onboard.

I was on the OLY DD-972 out of 32nd st. San Dogg !!

My uncle Thomas served on the Spruance for three or four years then transferred to the Pegasus at Key West; he said the latter was like serving on a starship flying across water

Caron is pronounced "Karen." Named after HM3 Caron who died in Vietnam.

I've worked on those engines! used to be at a site doing repair/overhaul and some oem on the turbine segments, blades and rings for these GE and similar kind of era PW + RR.

Thanks so much for this Excellent episode …!

I was on the John Hancock DD-981, 1978. Precom to 1981, we had Kaman SH-2 Seasprite helo's , lamps II. Nice roomy ships.

1982 I saw a Spruance class at sea blast buy us about a mile away Flank speed. The rooster tail she put out gigantic!!! I bet they were 40 plus nots. I was on the USS Roark ff 1053.

Thanks, brother!

Good job MIC SHILL, stick with what you are good at. Excellent presentation 👍

Hey Jive, just an FYI there's going to be a new modern Submarine simulator called Modern Naval Warfare. What I could see you could take command and control of a Virginia class SSN, it's probably going to be like a modern day version of the UBoat game with higly detailed submarine interior and world features.

Brilliant explanation.

Shame the DDH design was never built. A two-hangar Spruance in a similar fashion to the Flight IIA Burkes would be pretty neat. Two ships is a pretty insubstantial amount for the size force the USN operates, maybe run them as flotilla leaders for detached ASW formations or whatever, but they'd be cool to see nonetheless.

I served on the USS John Young DD-973 for over 4 years in the late 80's. I am surprised you didn't mention Operation Nimble Archer in the Persian Gulf.

Re F-35 loss. Have you done a segment on the Navy's deep sea salvage capabilities?

(little trivia) the LM2500 gas turbine is the same engine that the presidents plane uses. along with a number of airbus and the Boeing 767.

I have used these ships in the old Janes Fleet Command games. And in the game they are pretty much arsenal ships but they got deep magazines.

Not sure how many but some was sold to turkey. Being on the Caron she topped out at 35 knots and also was on a Burke class that did 38 and there was one Burke that had a change to the fantail and allowed it to do 40 knots

35:24 If anyone does look for the video on KZfaq the crew of the Caron begin playing “Back In the USSR” in Russian over the 1MC or loudspeakers.

I’ve been aboard the SDTS and seen the land based control room at Naval Base Port Hueneme. Looks like a room straight out of nasa. Very cool vessel.

I'd be very interested in similar briefs for WW2 era Destroyers / Cruisers / Subs / etc (I guess Carriers too but those are always talked about, learning more about the others would be awesome tho!)

Commissioning crew to the USS John Rodgers, DD-983. Hull # 21. 1979 It was a test bed for future DDG development.

I liked the Spruance, was sad to see their fate.

ASROC with torpedo or nuke in the box launcher had fully variable range from min to max. It was a good idea to shoot nukes at max range though. The ASROC booster was solid fuel with fixed power and burn time. Even so, we could drop the warhead at any distance desired. Tricky 😁. I was a MK 111 computer operator and tech (STG). Fortunately no nukes were launched except for tests. We thought of ASROC as point defense since max range was far short of a sub launched torpedo.

One of my favorite US Navy ships and Dragon Model Co makes 1/350 model kits of them I added Gold Metal photo etched parts to.

As a young sailor, an Electronics Tech, I saw a lot of these ships during my tour aboard a Destroyer Tender. These ships were the first to use high tech electronics in the Radar and Communications. They were filled with circuit cards and when one went bad you didn't fix it, you just replaced it. The Navy figured that it wasn't worth the effort for a tech to fix a card when it could be replaced for less than 500 bucks. It also meant that you didn't have to spend a lot of money training your techs if all they did was replace cards. The problem with this was that the Navy didn't contract for spares! After the initial supply of cards ran out the cost escalated into the stratosphere. All of a sudden most of the ET's were going to miniature/micro-miniature electronic repair courses. The 5" gun was a problem too in it's early life. After a couple of shots the hydraulic hoses would burst. The CWIS Phalanx system also had it's teething problems. It was completely self contained but the seals couldn't keep out the water making it unreliable. Most of the crew referred to it as "Ch---t! It won't shoot!". Habitability was good too. Many of the compartments were painted in different color pastels, not all white and pea green in every compartment.

OMG I am learning SO MUCH from this video I didn't know dude!😝🤪 I was trying to wait to the end to post all the frkn comments I got about all the content in this brief, but I can't remember them all. I'm amazed at all the face melting tech and the previously unknown details and stories about them. ....and among many other comments that there would be. Sonar Grandmaster Jive (Aaron) Turkey Thank you for the awesome brief.. and many more...😁

Such a handsome class of ship. I'm gonna listen to this while I play U-boat.

I was on the Cushing DD985 and we had a much thicker armor belt especially a lot of the hatches and we had RAM on the faintail

The SLAM variant was used in Gulf War 1. It targeted a petroleum manifold near Basrah.

Nice

Love sub brief!

Cool video, I knew nothing about this ship.

during the cold war sovs had 300 submarines,krasniflot a huge navy then,noted the effectiveness of doenitz's fleet of subs in the battle of the atlantic,,

Great brief! If you have time check out the Nat'l Film Board's (CDN) documentary on Canadian Tribal Class destroyers designed at the same time as the Spruances. "Sisters of the Space Age" provides a good compare and contrast of the two classes and the design thoughts at the time (primary ASW threats). I spent 6 years on HURON and enjoyed all of it (except cleaning stations and Capt's rounds)!!

Nice job on the Brief, a bit of trivia for you. The only ship the navy has ever had that didn't have the name in block letters was a Spruance. DD981 USS John Hancock the name was done in script like he signed the Declaration with and the Stern is at the Navy museum. 2 side notes Spruance class were a major part of the Tanker protection in the early 80's Persian gulf. Russian subs don't like being Pinged every hour for over a week as they try to Hide .He He

Interesting

Nice video. Have you also done an Arleigh Burke Class video? Just wondering. Thanks!

Lol the Navy got the 31st Sprucan via the Steve Miller Band Method. They took the money and ran.

Interesting fact about the AGM-84E SLAM is that they were developed in a relatively short 48 months and were used in the Gulf War before being officially tested.

Ddg 993 to 996 and Dd 997 were originally part of an order by the Shah of Iran for 6 DDs that the US Govt canceled after the Iranian revolution.

My son served on DD-992 Fletcher in the early 2000s

My step father was on the Harry W. Hill out of San Diego.

At 29:23ish could they open a starboard as well or limited to just launching from port side? I always thought we should have one torpedo tube facing aft on submarines also perfect for deploying mimes w/o makeup to prevent contaminating the water and giving away our position

My Ship!!!! DD979 USS Conoly.

SLAM was definitely used in 1991 against Iraq by USN aircraft. I've never heard of a surface or subsurface launched variant being tested, let alone deployed by any nation. Closest thing I know was Harpoon Block II.