The U.S. Navy’s Spruance-Class Destroyers Were Powerhouses Like No Other

Article Summary and Key Points: The Spruance-class destroyers, named after WWII Admiral Raymond Spruance, served as crucial technological bridges from WWII-era vessels to modern Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

-Initially criticized for limited lethality, 24 Spruance-Class ships underwent extensive upgrades, receiving Tomahawk missiles and Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems, significantly boosting their anti-ship, anti-submarine, and self-defense capabilities.

-This evolution inspired today’s heavily armed DDG-51 destroyers, influencing the integration of Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) for missiles. Though retired early, the Spruance-class played an essential role in shaping U.S. Navy warship modernization, laying groundwork for current destroyer designs and maritime combat strategies.

How the Spruance-Class Destroyers Shaped Today’s U.S. Navy Warships

In a decade, from the early 70s to the early 80s, the United States Navy built as many as 31 Spruance-class destroyers, a group of warships that served as the primary destroyer for the service in the 1970s and 1980s. 

The ships were named after famous WWII Admiral Raymond Spruance, who led battles in the Pacific theater at Midway and the Philippine Sea, a fitting tribute given that the Spruance-class was built to replace WWII-era Allen Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers.

The Spruance class fleet, often criticized during the Cold War for not appearing “lethal” or “imposing” enough, seems in retrospect to have served as a key technological bridge from WWII-era battleships to modern, heavily armed yet high-tech DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

It does not seem surprising that DDG 51s were built with Vertical Launch Systems to fire Tomahawks, Harpoons, and deck-mounted guns when one considers that many thought the Spruance-class warships were not sufficiently armed and deadly for major maritime warfare during the Cold War.

Members of Congress, observers, and some critics argued that the warships were ill-suited to challenge, deter, or destroy Soviet warships during the height of the Cold War. 

Massive Weapons Upgrade

Therefore, although initially envisioned as an escort ship to lead carrier groups, conduct anti-submarine warfare, and deliver some anti-ship capabilities, many weapons developers believed the Spruance-class ships needed heavier and more lethal weapons.

Roughly 24 of the Spruance-class destroyers were upgraded with Tomahawk missiles.

The addition of Tomahawks was part of a large-scale comprehensive effort to more fully arm the warships for open or blue water naval war. 

“Thirty-one SPRUANCE-class destroyers were developed for the primary mission of anti-submarine warfare, including operations as an integral part of attack carrier forces. Spruance-class destroyers have excellent strike and anti-submarine mission capabilities, but they are limited to self-defense against a narrow range of air threats.

They completed a long-term modernization program during which they received SH-60B helicopters, Tomahawk missiles, and Phalanx.

Adding the Tomahawk has greatly expanded their role in strike warfare. “The Spruance class ships were more than twice as large as a World War II destroyer and as large as a World War II cruiser,” Globalsecurity.org writes. 

Phalanx & Tomahawk

This massive Spruance-class upgrade, including the Phalanx and the Tomahawk, could be seen as a key bridging and modernization activity opening a pathway to the US Navy’s DDG 51s.

Interestingly, the hull form of the Spruance-class boats became the foundation for the 1980s-era US Navy Ticonderoga-class cruisers, and its weapons upgrades likely greatly influenced Navy thinking regarding the DDG 51s. 

Looking at this trajectory considering the Spruance-class weapons upgrades, it makes sense that DDG 51s were built at their inception to carry and fire large numbers of Tomahawk missiles fired from Vertical-Launch Tubes.

Tomahawks were added to the Spruance-class using deck-mounted Armored Box Launchers, a development or innovation that likely inspired the integration of Vertical Launch Systems built into DDG 51s. 

Ticonderoga-Class.

Secondly, using the Phalanx weapon for closer-in ship defense doubtless influenced the emergence of the Navy’s well-known Close-In-Weapons-System (CIWS), which is now arming most Navy warships. CIWS integrates radar, fire control technology, and a Phalanx area gun to “blanket” an area with hundreds of projectiles per second. 

The Spruance-class warships were retired earlier than planned. Yet, their existence appears to have demonstrably shaped US Navy warship development for many years into the future by helping the service recognize the importance of fully “arming” warships for the broadest possible range of maritime combat possibilities. 

About the Author: Kris Osborn 

Kris Osborn is the Military Technology Editor of 19FortyFive and President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.