Spruance (DD 963) - Naval Cruise Book

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ix days after Operation Desert Shield's transition into Desert Storm, SPRUANCE participated in a highly- successful Tomahawk cruise-missile strike on economic targets in northern Iraq. On 07 February, 1991, six months to the day after departure from Mayport, SPRUANCE was directed to proceed south at high speed for a transit ofthe Suez Canal and subsequent duty in the Red Sea. The officers and crew of SPRUANCE performed in their typically excellent fash- ion while operating as part of the U.Nfs Maritime lnterdiction Force CMIFJ, en- forcing economic sanctions imposed upon Iraq and her allies. Extensive training by Navy SEAL's and a Coast Guard tactical law enforcement detachment paid off in three by-the-book boardings of merchant ships bound for restricted ports. One target 86 ' 'I 0 M A ll A Wk was diverted when found to be in violation of the United Nations embargo. From their departure from Israel on Jan- uary 7th, the men of SPRUANCE re- mained at sea for 53 consecutive days until their post cease-fire visit to Hurghada, Egypt. During the entire cruise, SPRUANCE was underway for 176 days, compared to the 100 days of a normal Med cruise. After a high-speed transit of the Med and the Atlantic, SPRUANCE finally ar- rived in Mayport on 28 March, 1991 to the cheers, tears, and hugs of the throng of wives, children, girlfriends, and well- wishers lining the pier. After nearly eight months of separations, reunions were tear- ful, but sweet. SPRUANCE and her peer- less crew had done theirjob.

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GF COMMAND

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