A U.S. Navy destroyer received the customary “christening” accorded to all ships – a whack on the hull with a bottle of champagne – during a ceremony on Saturday in at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The Aegis destroyer was christened by the granddaughter of its namesake, Adm. Raymond Spruance.
Adm. Spruance was the commander of a battle group composed of two aircraft carriers. The efforts of the warplanes in the carriers under his command contributed to the sinking of four Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway, an event considered as pivotal in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. The sinking of the Japanese carriers weakened the Japanese navy.
Adm. Spruance eventually served as commander of the Pacific Fleet from 1945 to 1946 and became an ambassador to the Philippines.
In reference to Adm. Spruance’s reputation of being quiet – an autobiography on the admiral written by Thomas Buell was entitled “The Quiet Warrior.” His granddaughter, Ellen Spruance Holscher, commented that her grandfather would have been in awe with all the attention that he was getting. Holscher was the had to give the hull several whacks before the champagne bottle broke. In addition to Holscher, four other grandchildren of the admiral, as well as six of his great-grandchildren, were in attendance during the ceremony.
This is, however, not the first USS Spruance; the other was the lead ship in the Spruance-class of destroyers. This new USS Spruance, on the other hand, makes use of powerful computers and phased-array radar, giving it the ability to concurrently engage in battle with surface warships and subs, as well as aircraft and missiles.
The ceremony coincided with the observance of the 68th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
June 6th, 2010 - 6:06 am
This article shows how insensitive Americans are to their present allies.
How would Americans react if Japan christened its warship “Pearl Harbor” and Iraq christened its warship “9/11″?
June 7th, 2010 - 1:22 am
No worse than naming a ship Eisenhower, Truman, Nimitz or Fletcher. Perhaps one day there will be a USS William Halsey or USS Ernest King. Not a thing wrong with it.
June 10th, 2010 - 8:51 am
The Navies of the World have a long and honorable tradition of naming their warships after either Naval Heroes, Heads of State or decisive Naval engagements. This christening continues that tradition.
Our current allies have thicker skins and a better sense of tradition than “Katana” gives them credit for.
January 20th, 2012 - 8:08 am
My father served under Admiral Spruance. My father did not always have the most glosing reports of other Officers. But he regarded Admiral Spruance as one of the finest men he ever met and said it was one of his greatest honors to serve on his staff because he was not only brilliant, but devoted and loyal to the men under his command. War is hell, but if a nation commits to it, leaders like Spruance are an incredible blessing.