USS Spruance completes mid-deployment voyage repairs in UAE

The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) has completed its mid-deployment voyage repairs at Jebel Ali in the UAE.

Mid-deployment voyage repairs are conducted to allow the crew to undertake repairs and maintenance on the ship, which cannot be otherwise performed on the go.

They ensure the vessel’s mission readiness for the remainder of a deployment.

During the port visit to Jebel Ali for the mid-deployment voyage repairs, the Spruance crew carried out ship preservation maintenance and completed an engine change-out.

The crew also completed several lagging and deck preservation jobs and participated in tours hosted by the ship’s Moral, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) team. The crew also started a between the lifelines (BTL) security course.

US Navy chief warrant officer 3 Byron Gibbs said: “During the voyage repairs conducted in Jebel Ali, we were able to execute 66 installations or lagging jobs throughout the ship on various systems that impact health, quality of life, and safety of the crew. That’s not including all of the topside preservation by ship’s force.

“We also did mission-critical engine work. The team who executed that was actually seven enlisted Sailors, a civilian from Bahrain, and another civilian from Rota, Spain.”

As part of the exercise, divers conducted a hull inspection. The vessel also underwent polishing of the screws as well as an inspection of the sonar dome.

The 510ft-long USS Spruance was commissioned in 2011. It has a full displacement capacity of 9,515t and can accommodate 30 officers and 282 enlisted.

It is the second US Navy vessel to bear the name Spruance and the 61st Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.