About

SHIELD: Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally used by the Navy, representing the sea and excellence. The shield conveys the United States Navy’s steadfast resolve to defend national security, also indicating the USS SPRUANCE’s powerful Aegis Combat System. The black rampant lion personifies Admiral Spruance’s allegiance and courage. The lion is illustrated on the Order of Leopold II and Croix de Guerre medals, which were awarded to Admiral Spruance by Belgium during World War II. The trident symbolizes naval power; the double trident, taken from the coat of arms of theprevious USS SPRUANCE emphasizes the multi-mission capabilities of DDG 111. The Philippines Sun commemorates his appointment as the Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines, from 1952-1955. The red demi-sphere suggests how Japan’s dominance in the Pacific changed, starting with the Battle of Midway. The lightning bolts allude to the strategic planning, brilliance, and crucial actions that characterized Admiral Spruance’s decisions at sea, in addition to honoring the critical role of the Navy radio intelligence organization’s cryptologic analysts, who broke the Japanese communications code. The five lightning bolts recall the Admiral’s subsequent command of the Fifth Fleet. The Naval Pilot’s wings exemplify the pivotal role of naval aviation in the victories at the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea and acknowledge their unwavering support of Allied ground forces, so essential to the United States ‘island hopping’ campaign. The border implies the increase operational responsibilities of the ship and crew.

CREST: The laurel wreath symbolizes honor and achievement. The blue and gold circle denotes the fidelity of the individual sailor, the foundation of the Navy. The four dark blue stars indicate the highest rank achieved by Admiral Spruance. The five red circles allude to the enemy’s vessels destroyed during the Battle of Midway. The compass rose underscores navigational expertise. The compass rose numerous rays signify his lifelong study and appreciation of the importance of sea power to national security. The sixteen (16) rays refer to Task Force 16, the organization commanded by Admiral Spruance at the Battle of Midway. The image in the center of the polestar, adapted from the Navy Cross, represents the medal awarded to the Admiral for extraordinary heroism as the Fifth Fleet Commander against enemy forces during the Japanese invasion, from January to May 1945.

SUPPORTERS: The crossed Naval Officer’s sword Enlisted Chief Petty Officer cutlass honors the core of the Navy leadership that supports the ship and its crew.

SPRUANCE is a multi-mission, guided missile destroyer designed to operate independently or with an associated Strike Group. A crew of 350 men and women utilize the ship’s technologically advanced radars and sensors, weapons, communications systems, navigational equipment, and two helicopters. Serving a vital part of the Navy’s mission to “win wars, deter aggression, and maintain freedom of the seas,” her professional crew, with an average age of 22, train to conduct precision strike, land attack, anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare.

         SPRUANCE is armed with Standard Missiles and the Evolved Sea-Sparrow Missile for defense against aircraft or missile threats, torpedoes to hunt down submarines, Tomahawk missiles for Strike Warfare, and a large 5” deck gun for land, surface, and air attacks. Helicopters can be configured to help with all warfare areas. In addition to these main armaments, for sustained presence, her crew is trained to conduct maritime interdiction missions, critical to disrupting the movements of terrorists, pirates, and drug traffickers.

          She is the 103rd Aegis ship to be delivered to the US Navy and the 61st ship of the Arleigh Burke Class. She is the 2nd ship to bear the name of Admiral Spruance, the first being USS SPRUANCE (DD 963), commissioned in 1975 and served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. She was decommissioned in 2005. DDG 111 is proud to bear such an honorable and historic legacy

Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance is one of the greatest fighting and thinking admirals in American history. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906, he rose through the ranks, commanding six ships before attaining the rank of Admiral and assuming command of Cruiser Division Five, at the outset of World War II.

          The turning point of the war in the Pacific, the Battle of Midway, highlighted Admiral Spruance’s leadership, judicious planning, and brilliant execution. On short notice, he assumed command of Task Force 16, comprised of carriers ENTERPRISE and HORNET and their support ships, setting out to defend Midway Island. The Japanese planned to cripple the remaining U.S. forces in the Pacific, thereby controlling the entire ocean and effectively winning the war. Facing a vastly superior Japanese force, Spruance took the attack to the heart of the Japanese arsenal with the command: “Launch the attack.” The speed and surprise of the American attack led to the sinking of four Japanese carriers and America’s first decisive Naval victory in the Pacific, turning the tide of the war.

          Two years later, Spruance was the commander of U.S. Fifth Fleet and led successful campaigns that captured the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. When six Japanese carriers assembled for the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Spruance dealt the final fatal blow to Japanese forces when his aircraft and surface fleet sunk three carriers and shot down over 600 Japanese aircraft. His foresight and planning minimized U.S. losses and neutralized the Japanese carrier threat.

          After WWII, Spruance served as the Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet, the President of the Naval War College, and the Ambassador to the Philippines. He died in 1969, at the age of 83, and is buried in Golden Gate Cemetery, San Francisco, CA, alongside his wife, Margaret Dean, and Admirals Chester Nimitz, Richmond Turner, and Charles Lockwood.


 

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