Can anyone please tell me the layout of the Stern Plate on DD963? I've seen a variety of layouts on different Spruance boats. i'm building the DML Cushing into a post-modernization Spru-can but the sternplate looks so plain, and it's more appropriate for a Tico-class boat. I've seen the round "hole" on some Destroyers, I've seen none on some, I've seen 4 "handholds" on some, some having only one? This is all confusing...

Ahoy, Andrew!

I wish that I could get you a better stern shot than this one, mate, but I'm currently at the office away from my library. . .I will check out my resources when I get home though, and I will update accordingly. . .maybe someone else will jump in as well to lend a hand~
Cheers,
~Gunny

DD-982 Nicholson appears to have the same plate as Spruance



Source:
http://www.odim-spectrum.com/news.html


USS Spruance pictures here:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/963.htm

look at the bottom 3rd and 5th pictures.

try here -
http://www.blogme.cn/files/imglib/preview/57198de0fd9b28665ba93b8c07ccbae3-2295.jpg

what's the hole for?

Boat "poop"

Towed sonar and or Nixie
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLQ-25_Nixie
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/an-sqr-18.htm
oh yeah - and ship poop too!

Frankly, I wasn't expecting any responses to my question. You guys are all great!

Now I can finish my Spru-can.

Thanks for the help, mates!

Hope to be able to post pics here soon. It's a Spruance in her all-gray config, much like the DML Cushing but without the RAM on the stern deck.

So Gunny's photo is right on. Thanks, man.


A

RAM? if you are refering to Radar Absorbing Material - I was unamare of any sprus having it -I was on a DDG 51 class and it is covered with the stuff.

Missile launcher on the stern deck aft of the gun to starboard. They call it RAM - I forget what the acronym stands for.

Andrew

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/ram.htm

thanks