2 Missile Destroyers Set to Depart San Diego: Navy

SAN DIEGO, CA: The San Diego-based guided missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Decatur are scheduled to leave Tuesday for deployment to the western Pacific Ocean, according to the Navy.

The ships will join up with the Everett, Washington-based destroyer USS Momsen to form a Pacific Surface Action Group, the Third Fleet announced. Detachments from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 49, based at Naval Air Station North Island, will deploy with the vessels.

Navy officials said the ships will remain under the command of the Third Fleet as they conduct maritime security operations and missile defense.

The 509-foot-long Spruance, which returned from its last deployment in April 2014, is named after Adm. Raymond Spruance, a cruiser division commander who substituted for the ill Adm. William "Bull" Halsey to lead an aircraft carrier task force at the Battle of Midway during World War II.

Spruance and Halsey went on to split command of the Navy's prime carrier strike force in the Pacific in later battles against the Japanese.

The Decatur is the fifth American warship named for Stephen Decatur, noted for his heroism in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812.

It came back from its most recent deployment in April 2013.

City News Service

Photo: The USS Spruance/Naval Surface Warriors via Flickr