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EspañolRAYMOND A. SPRUANCE
(Redirected from Raymond Spruance)
'Raymond Ames Spruance' (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral in World War II, and commanded US naval forces at the turning point of the Pacific War, the Battle of Midway. Like Nelson of Trafalgar, he is Spruance of Midway.
After that battle, Spruance went on to command naval forces successfully throughout the course of the war, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. His high intelligence and quick-thinking abilities earned him the nickname "electric brain".
Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Alexander and Annie Spruance. After giving birth at the home of her parents, Annie returned with Raymond to the family home in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from the academically rigorous and highly regarded Shortridge High School. From there, he went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906, and received further, hands on education in electrical engineering a few years later. His seagoing career was extensive, including command of the USS ''Osborne'', four other destroyers, and the battleship USS ''Mississippi'' (BB-41). Spruance also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. In 1940 and 1941, he was in command of the 10th Naval District and Caribbean Sea Frontier, headquartered at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Rear Admiral Spruance commanded a cruiser division.
Admiral Bull Halsey, commander of aircraft carrier, ''Enterprise'', came down with a severe case of psoriasis just before the battle which forced him to be hospitalized. He recommended Spruance to take his place over his staff's objections that Spruance, a cruiser division commander, would have little idea as to how to handle carriers. His decisions during that action were instrumental, enabling the US Navy to win an important victory by sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers that turned the tide in the war against Japan.
Spruance commanded Task Force 16, with two aircraft carriers, USS ''Enterprise'' and USS ''Hornet'' and was under the overall command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher.
Thomas Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (Naval Institute Press 1987), pp. 494-5:
On the contrary, Spruance’s own accounts give his intention as wanting to hit the Japanese carriers “as early as possible” and that he made preparations to launch “when we got within striking distance.” (Buell says this “was generally regarded as 150 to 175 miles.”) Spruance also said in 1966 that “There was no argument or discussion about when to launch.” This is from the notes of a Spruance interview by Walter Lord, author of Incredible Victory, the first best-selling account. Buell corresponded with Lord about these notes, which also say (as quoted in Buell):
Buell told Lord that, contrary to these notes, Lord’s book states that 0900 was Spruance’s “original inclination.” Lord responded “I didn’t mean to imply that Spruance ‘intended’ to launch at 0900 .. I was trying to connote something less strong than intention, or even taking any firm position on the matter.” Lord also responded that “as soon as Browning came up with 0700, he went right along with it” and that Spruance’s main point had been to torpedo the contentions of Morison, Tuleja, Forrestel, and others that there was argument or discussion between him and Browning.
Buell believes this does not do justice to Spruance’s desire for surprise, and he rejects the further comment of Lord’s as to a letter he had received from former staff officer Bromfield Nichol to the effect that Spruance had suggested delaying the launch until they’d run in closer and that Spruance “had the good judgment to take the advice of others” – rejecting Nichol’s account as “inconsistent with the overwhelming evidence.”
Spruance himself, in 1955, in one of the few statements he published on the battle, the Foreword to Midway: the Battle that Doomed Japan, a translation of works by Fuchida and Okumiya, refuses to take credit for choosing the exact time when an attack would do most damage, “flight decks full of aircraft, fueled, and ready to go.”
Buell, p. 496:
When Spruance took over for the indisposed Halsey, Spruance inherited Halsey’s command staff, bringing only his own flag lieutenant, Robert J. Oliver. There was high excitement among this staff about what Spruance was like, which Oliver was only partly able to satisfy. One thing in particular mystified them, and Oliver too, for that matter:
Buell adds only that “He would use it to make the most important decision of the Battle of Midway.” p, 142.
Spruance arrived at the “flag shelter” (the command post created by Halsey atop the Enterprise island) very early on 4 June, joining Browning, Buracker, Oliver, and the staff watch officer. They listened to the radio loudspeaker tuned to Midway search plane frequency.
At 0534 “Enemy carriers.”
At 0545 the same plane reported many enemy planes closing Midway from the northwest at 150 miles. But were they headed toward the US ships or towards Midway and how many of them were there? “The inconclusive reports had an unintended and malignant effect upon the staff officers, wrenching their nerves and intensifying their anxiety. Anticipating that the next message surely would locate the enemy, they could scarcely contain their impatience and excitement.”
At 0603 “the message burst through the loudspeaker”: two carriers and battleships making for Midway.
Buell, 144-5.
The actual departure time of aircraft from Enterprise’s decks depended still on the distance each of the two opposing forces would cover, the direction of the wind and its velocity, the degree of accuracy of the reported position of the enemy, payload and fuel capacity, speed of manning the planes and starting them, time between first and last launch, combat radius, and “the time required to send the attack order by flashing light on the Hornet, also under Spruance’s command. Computing all this was Browning’s job, his considerable job. “But it had to be without delay. Spruance wanted his planes up and flying at the earliest possible moment.” Browning computed 0700; Spruance accepted. So let it be written, so let it be done.
Half an hour into the launch, only half completed.
The first-launched aircraft circled, burning fuel, waiting for others so that it would be a coordinated attack, bombers first, then torpedoes, all protected by fighters. At the same time, the distance to target lengthened due to the winds.
Here is Spruance’s second critical, vital decision. Proceed to target. Proceed with the bombers then aloft. Torpedo planes would follow when they could.
Buell, p. 147.
Not until an hour and six minutes after launch had begun did the last torpedo plane lift off Enterprise’s deck. Hornet, following Spruance’s orders, had launched and gone. A report that a Japanese scout plane had sighted them had come in, but Spruance was unaware of this until nine minutes later, according to Lundstrom, The First Team (Naval Institute Press 1984).
See Battle of Midway
After the Midway battle, he became Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-1943, Spruance was given command of the Central Pacific Force, which became the United States 5th Fleet in April 1944. From 1943 through 1945, with USS ''Indianapolis'' as his usual flagship, Spruance directed the campaigns that captured the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Spruance directed Operation Hailstone against the Japanese naval base Truk in February 1944 in which twelve Japanese warships, thirty-two merchant ships and 249 aircraft were destroyed. While screening the American invasion of Saipan, in June 1944 Spruance also defeated the Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Although he broke the back of the Japanese naval airforce by sinking 3 carriers,
2 oilers and destroying about 600 enemy airplanes - in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, a few months later, the remaining carriers were used solely as a decoy due to the lack of aircraft, and aircrews to fly them - Spruance has been criticized for not being aggressive enough.
Spruance succeeded Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz as commander of the Pacific Fleet in late 1945.
Spruance's promotion to Fleet Admiral was blocked multiple times by Congressman Carl Vinson, a staunch partisan of Admiral William Halsey, Jr.. Congress eventually responded by passing an unprecedented Act which specified that Spruance would remain on a full admiral's pay once retired until death. Spruance was President of the Naval War College from early 1946 until he retired from the Navy in July 1948. Spruance was appointed as American ambassador to the Philippines by President Harry S Truman, and served there from 1952 to 1955.
Spruance died in Pebble Beach, California in 1969. He was buried with full military honors next to Nimitz and his long-time friend Admiral Kelly Turner in Golden Gate National Cemetery, just south of San Francisco.
The destroyer USS ''Spruance'' (DD-963), lead ship of the ''Spruance''-class of destroyers, was named in his honor.
The destroyer USS ''Spruance'' (DDG-111), 61st ship of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer, has been named in his honor.[1]
1. The quiet warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Buell, Thomas B., , , Little, Brown, 1974,
★ Naval Historical Center: USS ''Spruance'' (DD-963)
★ Naval Historical Center, Online Library of Selected Images
Raymond Spruance
'Raymond Ames Spruance' (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral in World War II, and commanded US naval forces at the turning point of the Pacific War, the Battle of Midway. Like Nelson of Trafalgar, he is Spruance of Midway.
After that battle, Spruance went on to command naval forces successfully throughout the course of the war, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines. His high intelligence and quick-thinking abilities earned him the nickname "electric brain".
Early life
Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Alexander and Annie Spruance. After giving birth at the home of her parents, Annie returned with Raymond to the family home in Indianapolis, Indiana.[1] Spruance attended Indianapolis public schools and graduated from the academically rigorous and highly regarded Shortridge High School. From there, he went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906, and received further, hands on education in electrical engineering a few years later. His seagoing career was extensive, including command of the USS ''Osborne'', four other destroyers, and the battleship USS ''Mississippi'' (BB-41). Spruance also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. In 1940 and 1941, he was in command of the 10th Naval District and Caribbean Sea Frontier, headquartered at San Juan, Puerto Rico.
World War II: Before Midway
In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Rear Admiral Spruance commanded a cruiser division.
World War II: Midway
Admiral Bull Halsey, commander of aircraft carrier, ''Enterprise'', came down with a severe case of psoriasis just before the battle which forced him to be hospitalized. He recommended Spruance to take his place over his staff's objections that Spruance, a cruiser division commander, would have little idea as to how to handle carriers. His decisions during that action were instrumental, enabling the US Navy to win an important victory by sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers that turned the tide in the war against Japan.
Spruance commanded Task Force 16, with two aircraft carriers, USS ''Enterprise'' and USS ''Hornet'' and was under the overall command of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher.
Midway: Background to Decision to Launch
Thomas Buell, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (Naval Institute Press 1987), pp. 494-5:
On the contrary, Spruance’s own accounts give his intention as wanting to hit the Japanese carriers “as early as possible” and that he made preparations to launch “when we got within striking distance.” (Buell says this “was generally regarded as 150 to 175 miles.”) Spruance also said in 1966 that “There was no argument or discussion about when to launch.” This is from the notes of a Spruance interview by Walter Lord, author of Incredible Victory, the first best-selling account. Buell corresponded with Lord about these notes, which also say (as quoted in Buell):
Buell told Lord that, contrary to these notes, Lord’s book states that 0900 was Spruance’s “original inclination.” Lord responded “I didn’t mean to imply that Spruance ‘intended’ to launch at 0900 .. I was trying to connote something less strong than intention, or even taking any firm position on the matter.” Lord also responded that “as soon as Browning came up with 0700, he went right along with it” and that Spruance’s main point had been to torpedo the contentions of Morison, Tuleja, Forrestel, and others that there was argument or discussion between him and Browning.
Buell believes this does not do justice to Spruance’s desire for surprise, and he rejects the further comment of Lord’s as to a letter he had received from former staff officer Bromfield Nichol to the effect that Spruance had suggested delaying the launch until they’d run in closer and that Spruance “had the good judgment to take the advice of others” – rejecting Nichol’s account as “inconsistent with the overwhelming evidence.”
Spruance himself, in 1955, in one of the few statements he published on the battle, the Foreword to Midway: the Battle that Doomed Japan, a translation of works by Fuchida and Okumiya, refuses to take credit for choosing the exact time when an attack would do most damage, “flight decks full of aircraft, fueled, and ready to go.”
Buell, p. 496:
Midway: Decision to Launch—A Prelude
When Spruance took over for the indisposed Halsey, Spruance inherited Halsey’s command staff, bringing only his own flag lieutenant, Robert J. Oliver. There was high excitement among this staff about what Spruance was like, which Oliver was only partly able to satisfy. One thing in particular mystified them, and Oliver too, for that matter:
Buell adds only that “He would use it to make the most important decision of the Battle of Midway.” p, 142.
Midway: Decision to Launch
Spruance arrived at the “flag shelter” (the command post created by Halsey atop the Enterprise island) very early on 4 June, joining Browning, Buracker, Oliver, and the staff watch officer. They listened to the radio loudspeaker tuned to Midway search plane frequency.
At 0534 “Enemy carriers.”
At 0545 the same plane reported many enemy planes closing Midway from the northwest at 150 miles. But were they headed toward the US ships or towards Midway and how many of them were there? “The inconclusive reports had an unintended and malignant effect upon the staff officers, wrenching their nerves and intensifying their anxiety. Anticipating that the next message surely would locate the enemy, they could scarcely contain their impatience and excitement.”
At 0603 “the message burst through the loudspeaker”: two carriers and battleships making for Midway.
Buell, 144-5.
The actual departure time of aircraft from Enterprise’s decks depended still on the distance each of the two opposing forces would cover, the direction of the wind and its velocity, the degree of accuracy of the reported position of the enemy, payload and fuel capacity, speed of manning the planes and starting them, time between first and last launch, combat radius, and “the time required to send the attack order by flashing light on the Hornet, also under Spruance’s command. Computing all this was Browning’s job, his considerable job. “But it had to be without delay. Spruance wanted his planes up and flying at the earliest possible moment.” Browning computed 0700; Spruance accepted. So let it be written, so let it be done.
Midway: Proceed to Target
Half an hour into the launch, only half completed.
The first-launched aircraft circled, burning fuel, waiting for others so that it would be a coordinated attack, bombers first, then torpedoes, all protected by fighters. At the same time, the distance to target lengthened due to the winds.
Here is Spruance’s second critical, vital decision. Proceed to target. Proceed with the bombers then aloft. Torpedo planes would follow when they could.
Buell, p. 147.
Not until an hour and six minutes after launch had begun did the last torpedo plane lift off Enterprise’s deck. Hornet, following Spruance’s orders, had launched and gone. A report that a Japanese scout plane had sighted them had come in, but Spruance was unaware of this until nine minutes later, according to Lundstrom, The First Team (Naval Institute Press 1984).
Midway: the Strike
See Battle of Midway
World War II: Truk, Philippine Sea and Iwo Jima
After the Midway battle, he became Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-1943, Spruance was given command of the Central Pacific Force, which became the United States 5th Fleet in April 1944. From 1943 through 1945, with USS ''Indianapolis'' as his usual flagship, Spruance directed the campaigns that captured the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Spruance directed Operation Hailstone against the Japanese naval base Truk in February 1944 in which twelve Japanese warships, thirty-two merchant ships and 249 aircraft were destroyed. While screening the American invasion of Saipan, in June 1944 Spruance also defeated the Japanese fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Although he broke the back of the Japanese naval airforce by sinking 3 carriers,
2 oilers and destroying about 600 enemy airplanes - in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, a few months later, the remaining carriers were used solely as a decoy due to the lack of aircraft, and aircrews to fly them - Spruance has been criticized for not being aggressive enough.
Spruance succeeded Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz as commander of the Pacific Fleet in late 1945.
Later life
Spruance's promotion to Fleet Admiral was blocked multiple times by Congressman Carl Vinson, a staunch partisan of Admiral William Halsey, Jr.. Congress eventually responded by passing an unprecedented Act which specified that Spruance would remain on a full admiral's pay once retired until death. Spruance was President of the Naval War College from early 1946 until he retired from the Navy in July 1948. Spruance was appointed as American ambassador to the Philippines by President Harry S Truman, and served there from 1952 to 1955.
Spruance died in Pebble Beach, California in 1969. He was buried with full military honors next to Nimitz and his long-time friend Admiral Kelly Turner in Golden Gate National Cemetery, just south of San Francisco.
The destroyer USS ''Spruance'' (DD-963), lead ship of the ''Spruance''-class of destroyers, was named in his honor.
The destroyer USS ''Spruance'' (DDG-111), 61st ship of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer, has been named in his honor.[1]
References
1. The quiet warrior: a biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Buell, Thomas B., , , Little, Brown, 1974,
Sources
★ Naval Historical Center: USS ''Spruance'' (DD-963)
★ Naval Historical Center, Online Library of Selected Images
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