# USS Spruance (DDG-111)

USS Spruance (DDG-111) is an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight IIA) Aegis guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. Spruance is the second ship to be named for Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (1886–1969), who commanded American naval forces at the Battles of Midway and the Philippine Sea. He was later Ambassador to the Philippines. Her keel was laid down on 14 May 2009. She was christened by the admiral's granddaughter, Ellen Spruance Holscher, on 5 June 2010 in Bath, Maine at Bath Iron Works, where the ship was built at a cost of $1 billion. The completed ship left Bath on 1 September 2011 for her commissioning in Key West, Florida on 1 October 2011.
Spruance was the first of the U.S. Navy's destroyers to be fitted with the Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplex System (GEDMS), manufactured by the Boeing Company. GEDMS provides an Internet Protocol (IP) based backbone for video and data services on the ship. The bridge features touch screen controls and color readouts instead of gauges.

## Ship history

She was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. At her christening on 5 June 2010, the principal address was delivered by Honorable John Baldacci of Maine, and the vessel was christened by Ellen Spruance Holscher as the ship's sponsor. Commander Tate Westbrook was the ship's first commanding officer.
She sailed from San Diego on her maiden deployment on 16 October 2013, heading for Asia under the command of Commander George Kessler who was succeeded by Commander Daniel Cobian. On 18 January 2014, sailors from the Spruance rescued a Filipino mariner who had fallen overboard from his vessel while transiting the Singapore Strait. Spruance returned to Naval Base San Diego on 17 April 2014 following the completion of her maiden deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean.
On 18 April 2019, Spruance arrived in Sri Lanka for the 25th anniversary of CARAT 2019 series
Spruance and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) departed the Port of Seattle 2 Aug. 2019, officially ending Seattle Fleet Week.
On 22 May 2022, Spruance steamed into Tokyo Bay as a part of Destroyer Squadron 2, along with USS Abraham Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group 3.
Spruance participated in RIMPAC 2022.
January 2024, The US Navy reinstalls ODIN Laser on destroyer Spruance. ODIN, a solid-state laser system, is designed primarily to counter and neutralize the sensors on UAS, effectively blinding them without destroying the aircraft. Technical aspects of the ODIN system include its ability to emit a high-intensity laser beam, targeting the optical sensors of enemy drones.
Spruance arrived at the Port of Colombo, situated in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 19 August 2024 on a replenishment visit. The vessel is scheduled to depart the island on 20 August 2024.
On the morning of 27 September 2024, while transiting the Red Sea with the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Stockdale and Freedom class littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis, she was attacked by roughly two dozen missiles and drones launched by Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. All missiles and drones were intercepted by the flotilla or missed their target outright.
On 11 November 2024, the Houthis again attacked the Spruance and Stockdale, launching eight drones, five ballistic missiles and three cruise missiles at the American destroyers. All of the projectiles were shot down by the destroyers with no damage or casualties to the vessels.

### Deployments

* 16 October 2013 – 17 April 2014 Maiden deployment 7th Fleet
* May 2016 - 14 November 2016 7th Fleet
* October 2018 - May 2019 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet
* January 2022 - August 2022 7th Fleet
* July 2024 - February 2025

## Awards

* Combat Action Ribbon - (Sep-Nov 2024)
* Battle "E" - (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023)
* Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Ribbon with Operational Distinguishing Device - (2017)
* Vice Admiral Thomas H. Copeman III Material Readiness Award - (2016)
* Safety Excellence Award - (2013, 2014, 2016, 2019)
* CNO Afloat Safety Award (PACFLT) - (2020)
* Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group's (ABECSG) deployment tomahawk strike warfare Award for Thor's Hammer 2022.