¹⁄700

Dragon Models continues their pursuit of bringing the modeler the biggest bang for the buck. Due out July of 2008, the newest member of the premium edition line will be the 1/700 USS Spruance (DD-963). Previously released by Dragon, the kit has now been completely overhauled and refitted. This means all the accuracy and detail of the original kit has been retained, while new photo-etched parts are added to replicate the deck railings, radars, masts and etc. No price has been announced as of yet.

The USS Spruance (DD-963), named after Admiral Raymond Spruance, was the lead ship of the Spruance-class of destroyers. This class of vessel was designed as an anti-submarine warfare destroyer, and they were the first U.S. Navy ships to be powered by gas turbines. DD-963 was commissioned on 20 September 1975 and it had a displacement of 8040 tons. The USS Spruance ranged far and wide, and some of its many duties included observing the Iran-Iraq War, a maritime blockade of Iraq, a UN mission in Haiti, and hurricane relief in Florida. The USS Spruance was decommissioned in 2005, before being sunk as a target for air-launched Harpoon missiles in December 2006.