Leftwich (DD 984) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS LEFTWICH (DD-984) is the twenty-second Spruance Class Destroyer to be designed and built by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in Pascagoula. Mississippi. Homeported in San Diego. LEFTWICH is assigned to Cruiser-Destroyer Group THREE and Destroyer Squadron SEVEN. The Spruance Class Destroyer is unique among today's warships in that it is the first major class to be powered strictly by gas turbine engines. LEFTWICH, as her sisters, is powered by four General Electric LM-2500 engines. Designed originally for large aircraft, these engines have been modified for marine use and produce 20.000 horsepower each. Her engines, in conjunction with twin controllable-reversible pitch propellers, are capable of moving LEFTWICH through the water at speeds in excess of 30 Knots and give her a degree of maneuverability unequaled by any other warship her size. Built with future growth in mind. LEFTWlCH's design is modular in nature thus allowing for the easy installation of entire subsystems within the ship, this makes LEFTWICH a ship of the future as well as the present. Her modular construction and the consequent ease with which she can accept the installation of new weapons and electronics systems destines LEFTWICH to be a proving ground for new military technology. Crew comfort and habitability were also of prime consideration in LEFTWlCH’s design. Berthing areas are very spacious and considerable care was taken to equip the ship with features uncommon to most destroyers. Such features includes a ship's library, crew's lounge, a well equipped gymnasium, hobby shop, and many other items aimed at crew comfort. Enhancing these specifically designed-in comforts is the added benefit of a much reduced required manning level resulting from the incorporation of the many automated weapons and engineering systems. As a highly versatile multi-mission destroyer. LEFTWICH is capable of operating independently or in company with amphibious or carrier task forces. Although equipped to handle a wide variety of mission areas. LEFTWlCH’s primary mission is that of Antisubmarine Warfare. LEFTWICH possesses the most advanced ASW equipment in existence to facilitate her accomplishment of this complex and demanding task. The ship is equipped with a sophisticated sonar, the SQS-53, that is directly integrated with a third generation, digital computer system, the Naval Tactical Data System. In addition to her sonar. LEFTWlCH’s ASW weapons suit, an Antisubmarine Rocket (ASROC) and two triple barreled Mark 32 torpedo tubes, also complexes with NTDS. This integrated combat system provides LEFTWICH with an enhanced target information processing capability and an extremely fast threat reaction time. LEFTWICH also boasts two 5-inch 54 caliber Mark 45 fully automatic gun mounts controlled by the digital Mark 86 Fire Control System. The ship's missile system consists of the NATO Seasparrow Missile System, a short range surface to air. defensive weapon and the Harpoon Weapon System which employs a medium range, offensive surface to surface anti-ship cruise missile. Additionally, the ship is equipped with rapid blooming offboard chaff, a decoy system used in an electronic warfare environment. In conclusion, USS LEFTWICH constitutes a destroyerman's dream as she incorporates the best of a technology unequaled by any other Navy in the World. Her exceptional propulsion system and fully integrated combat system combine with her modular construction to make LEFTWICH a platform not to be surpassed.