USS Spruance Sets Post-World War II Record for Days Deployed for Destroyer

The Arleigh-Burke class destroyer USS Spruance has earned a new distinction, becoming the longest deployed destroyer since the Second World War. The ship hit 343 days, but the deployment is ongoing, and she could easily pass a year underway. Believed to still be deployed on patrol somewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, the destroyer played a key role in the first stages of the war against Iran, which has prompted her originally anticipated routine deployment to be extended several times.

The final tally on her record-setting deployment remains to be calculated, but family members are saying they have been told the destroyer will return to San Diego next month. The San Diego Union-Tribune also reports the anticipated return for November, while family members, however, point out they have been told the return was imminent several times only to be told the deployment was extended.

The counter on the record began on Friday, October 23, after her sister ship USS McFaul returned to her homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, after 333 days at sea. The Navy confirmed that McFaul departed Norfolk on November 25, 2025, and spent the 11-month deployment defending U.S., allied, and partner interests across Europe and the Middle East. The warship provided anti-air warfare, surface warfare, and naval surface fire support during combat operations, integrating with the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George H.W. Bush, and USS George Washington Carrier Strike Groups.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →