New Navy Destroyer Arrives In Key West
KEY WEST, Fla. (CBSMiami.com) – Key West welcomed in the U.S. Navy's newest destroyer Friday afternoon ahead of a formal commissioning ceremony set for October 1.
The new destroyer, named the USS Spruance, will have Tomahawk cruise missiles, a 5-inch gun, sonar systems, and can land two helicopters. The ship will also be able to reach a speed ahead of 30 knots.
The commissioning will be the first time that Key West has ever held, despite having naval operations in the area dating back to the 1800's.
The ship's name comes from Admiral Raymond Spruance, an aircraft carrier task force commander during the Battle of Midway in World War II.
Spruance replaced Admiral Bull Halsey and commanded the Pacific Fleet to the first victory in the Pacific theater in WWII.