Spruance (DD 963) - Naval Cruise Book

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i I . SUR VEILLANCE OP N SOVIET ASW,' VTOL CRUISER Also included in this period was a visit to Boston, Massachusetts over the fourth of July in which over 4000 Bostonians toured her decks. SPR UANCE deployed to the Mediter- ranean in early October. Being the first of her class to deploy to the Sixth Fleet, SPR UANCE created great inter- est in military, political and civilian circles throughout the Mediterranean, which includ- ed various port visits in France, Spain and Italy. The highlights of SPRUANCE's suc- cessful six month deployment included a port visit to Haifa, Israel where she hosted a large reception for the Israeli Na val and governmen- tal officials, a five-day cruise in the interna- tional waters of the Black Sea, and a special surveillance operation on the Soveit's new ASW cruiser, MINSK, and her task force of thirty Soviet na val vessels. Upon returning home in early April, SPR U- ANCE was presented the coveted Battle Efti- ciency E award for Destroyer Squadron TEN. Individual departmental awards also garnered included: Operation EZ CIC EZ Communications EZ Communications EZ AS W A , Gunnery E , and the Missile E , The SPRUANCE remained in the Norfolk area from April to November 1979 participat- ing in the U.S. Navy Academy Midshipmen Second Class training from June through July. 1979 , V' ' .R 4. 1 , - X, .!, ., A W , I. t . . .. 2.3 -.1 -- 15. . - . f nggs. ' .5 KK - 1 'M .5 v - 1 fer' I, '-qsfflrr , Q.. -.2 5, V A, -.- . ?'L,Q.,,-...u-r-' Q. v ut- ' ard. I T 'X z , - II'- L ' . . - Q , 1 ., 4 1- - f' 4 L Q , ' , 1 I... , V- 1 ' , - . v -15 ,S A ',, I '- - , . f - ' 1. ,, , ' -H - 4 --,-- ,',,-- . vw ' .v -4 1 V tif . t ,. ':..fl'QWd,- - ' .n V, .I Y., ,- - ' - . . I mr . , , 4, ' ., - , --- ' .. 2 - A wus., - ' 1 . 0 , - . ,,., r - -, . - .:, .qfrx ' ' , nqvqji, I 1 .N .C N - - - ' ,, -fafa c 4 - , 4 . ,. H . , ' kj .C ff- --Mb. ' ' . .- .' ' V 'f ' iff L.: - ,A , X ' 'K+ , , . .V 4 f 1 , - . , ' a 0, . , -,p '- sr., 9 ,.gp'.. ,--f ,M ' 1 fi -nv., 'f..f,,, f. 9'i 3- ' , A . - K 0-,sg 4 -f s.-f 1. Q' a - gh , -- N A . . A f 9 ,E-L, T I .1-. . J fi: - . . ,- ,., f ' 11 'L' A ' -f -. K- .,. ' I -- . , . - - cf., A A . '-.' '-' , 'I' I ' ' , I r .G 1 , 1-fe -, , g Y , T fn-N Q a . V ti 1 ' . ,, .-,- A k . -,3,?a-v. --I K - -bl A . 1 . .- L A - gr. 2 --Q,!',,,,-,,...f-- - ' . . - ' - , 1 ' - f 1 - V .J ,, .r 1, VA- - , ,,x,,, A - ' , - 'T -c. Q xr F ' - ' V '. 4 - - ' ' ' --W .331 F' 4 -fx ' c4 ,'? . ' ' - ' rv ,a.'. . 7 -. .,...' ' , Pf'5o Q ' .1 . QW, . 4 g -- , . , ' ' . - , , ' Ae 1 1 3 - V' , g l, U 1 'bi I Q - 4 I . ' n ' .

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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.

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AW RD D MUC After Completing preparation for overseas movement the USS SPRUANCE got under- way November 22 1979 for its second Medi- terranean deployment. After spending Christ- mas holiday season in Toulon, France the SPR UAN CE got underway for Sixth Fleet op- erations within the Mediterranean. During this deployment the SPR UANCE saw port calls not only in France, but also paid courtesy calls in Italy, Greece and Spain before return- ing to the United States. The highlights of this Mediterranean deployment were a fi ve-da y cruise in the international waters of the Black Sea and a special Surveillance operation on the Soviet's ASW VT OL cruiser the KIE V in the Mediterranean. For this surveillance op- eration the USS SPRUANCE was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy. Returning to Norfolk in May 1980 the ship began preparing for entering Norfolk Na val Shipyard to undergo Regular Overhaul fROHjg the first ROH for a SPRUANCE class ship. While a waiting ROH SPR UANCE participat- ed once again in Midshipmen training in June and during this training period was honored to ha ve Mr. Gerald GANM Principal Deputy As- sistant Secretary of the Navy as a guest rider for an at-sea period. In August 1980, after off loading ammunition and supplies, the USS SPR UANCE entered Norfolk Na val Shipyard for Regular Overhaul. Originally scheduled for an eleven month overhaul, SPR UANCE suc- cessfully completed the Overhaul in only eight and a half months. RX .ln Um - ' 5-Avjny 'V awe, ',-an '.,, nuff, N U 'Jan' . V- , , A 'g ,- ' , if ts: Q' in F ' '..f 4 . 'EL' , ,, Q .X X i,v .-Q.. ' K L , , 4 ' , A 'xl