Spruance (DD 963) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE FIRST AND THE FINEST time on 4 October 1975. On 28 October 1975 SPR UANCE departed Norfolk for furtber testing including system suitability, belicopter certification and weapons accuracy followed by sbakedown training at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Upon completion of Final Contract Tri- als and Post Sbakedo wn A vailability in Pasca- goula, Mississippi, SPR UANCE returned to Norfolk, Virginia for additional testing prior to commencing a restricted availability at Norfolk Na val Sbipyard wbicb was completed in late December 1976 Due to major equipment modifications dur- ing tbe restricted availability and large tur- nover of tbe commissioning crew, SPR U- ANCE returned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Refresher Training and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico for spotter exercises with the Tbird Marine Division as well as Gunfire Sup. port Qualifications. Additional testing in Au. gust 1977 of all installed weapons systems conclusively proved tbe capabilities of SPRUANCE'S arsenal. On 13 June 1977 CDR. CORMA CK relieved CDR. HAR- BRECH T as Commanding Officer. SPR UANCE was runner-up in tbe Destroy- er Squadron T WEN TY-TWO Battle E competition for tbe competition year ending September 197 Z Individual awards included: Operations EZ Communications CZ Com- bat Information Center CZ Anti-Submarine Warfare AZ Gunnery EZ Missile EZ En- gineering E'j and tbe Damage Control NDC .

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FIRST TO D PLO O MED SPRUANCE completed her first overseas deployment to Northern Europe - in the fall of 1971 making the first deployment of the class. Along with other units of the U.S. Sec- ond Fleet, SPR UANCE participated in NA TO exercise OCEAN SAFARI in the Eastern Atlantic and operated in the Baltic as part of BALTOPS - 77 While in Europe, SPR U- ANCE visited Lisbon, Portugal, T ra vemunde, Germany, and with Commander SECOND Fleet embarked, Olso, Norvva y. SPR UANCE returned to her homeport Norfolk, Virginia in early December 1977 After a brief respite during the holiday sea- son, SPR UANCE departed with the USS IN- CHON and USS VALDEZ for a goodwillf training cruise to West Africa and South America in January 1978. The West African portion of the deployment was highlighted by a solo port visit to Tema, Ghana and by a visit from the President of Liberia while in port Monrovia, Liberia. While in transit from Monro via, Liberia to Libreville, Gabon, SPR UANCE's Royal Shellbacks initiated the Pollywogs of the crew into the Ancient Order of the Deep when SPR UANCE Crossed the Line at 00.00' Latitude and 000.00' Longi. tude. After transiting the Atlantic for the second time in the deployment, SPRUANCE visited Salvador, Brazil before and after a ten day visit to Rio de Janeriro. Upon leaving Brazil, SPR UANCE proceeded to Barbados for her last port visit prior to her return to homeport. During the period May through August S RUANCE participated in Exercise SOLID SHIELD '78, Na val Gunfire Support Qualih- cations, and the high tempo pre-deployment work-up, COMPTUEX 4- 78.