U.S.S. Arthur W. Radford (DD-968)

[ice55]

Was looking around for pics and came across this one and wondered what it was exactly.

http://navysite.de/dd/Image828.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

Looked into it and identified the ship as the U.S.S. Arthur W. Radford (DD-968)

Never seen that kind of buildup on a Spruance. Her original profile was:

http://navysite.de/dd/Image833.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

http://navysite.de/dd/Image832.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

Found out after lookinga round that in May of 1997, Arthur W. Radford received the first ever shipboard installation of the Advanced Enclosed Mast/Sensor System which fully integrates advanced materials, structures, and manufacturing technologies with sensor technology, electromagnetics, and signature reduction to achieve improved warfighting capabilities.

http://navysite.de/dd/Image835.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

http://navysite.de/dd/Image836.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

http://navysite.de/dd/Image837.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

http://navysite.de/dd/dd968_3.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

http://navysite.de/dd/dd968_8.jpg (http://www.vbulletin.com) (Linked)

Anyone know if this was installed any of the other Spruances?

Loved the Spruances lines as well, the original I mean, attractive ship.

More info at http://navysite.de/dd/dd968.htm

[BusterHyman]

That was the only Spruance with that mast installed. Didn't they eventually sink the Arthur Radford during a sinkex?

[ice55]

Found this:

USS ARTHUR W. RADFORD was the eighth ship in the SPRUANCE - class and the Navy’s test platform for the AEM/S System.

After being decommissioned, ARTHUR W. RADFORD was towed to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Inactive Ships Maintenance Office in Philadelphia. Later, the ship will be towed to Pascagoula, Miss., where Northrop Grumman will equip it with the new DD(X) technology. Some of this technology includes three engineering development models comprised of an integrated power system, composite deckhouse and dual band radar. The integrated power system will allow rapid reconfiguration of power, reduced acoustic noise, and greater flexibility in ship design.

The conversion is scheduled to begin in fall of 2004 and will take approximately one year. Once ARTHUR W. RADFORD is converted, at-sea testing will begin in the Gulf of Mexico and Virginia Capes operating areas, including Lambert’s Point Range in Norfolk, Va., and Wallops Island Range near the eastern Virginia shore. The Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center Range in the Bahamas will also be used for the ship’s testing.

Commissioned in 1977, ARTHUR W. RADFORD has completed 10 deployments where it participated in many exercises and missions, such as Exercise Multiplex-79, Exercise Dawn Patrol and Operation Enduring Freedom. During the ship’s service, it had been to Venezuela, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Senegal, Oman, Bahrain, the Azores, Nova Scotia, Italy and Turkey.

USS RADFORD was homeported in Norfolk, Va.

General Characteristics: Awarded: January 15, 1971
Keel laid: January 24, 1974
Launched: March 1, 1975
Commissioned: April 16, 1977
Decommissioned: March 18, 2003

[phoilme]

By the end of August I believe all Sprucans will be at Davey Jones' locker.