US Navy destroyer USS Spruance sets record sea deployment

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Spruance has set a post-World War II record for US Navy destroyer deployments, completing 342 consecutive days at sea as of October 29, 2026. The vessel, which departed from Naval Base San Diego on November 21, 2025, was part of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group.

The extended mission has led to the postponement of scheduled maintenance until 2027, raising concerns regarding fleet readiness and the impact on crew families. Similar delays have been reported for other destroyers, including the USS John Finn, USS Mustin, and USS Rafael Peralta, with some deployments potentially extending by 14 months.

These prolonged deployments disrupt the Fleet Optimized Response Plan, which typically follows a 36-month cycle consisting of eight months of depot-level maintenance, 10 months of training, and 18 months of operations and maintenance.