US Navy has tested VLS reloading from an offshore support vessel platform for first time.

According to information published by the US DoD on October 7, 2022, the U.S. Navy is scheduled to demonstrate re-arming the vertical launch system (VLS) aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) at Naval Air Station North Island and in the San Diego Harbor.
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Re-arming the vertical launch system (VLS) aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Spruance. (Picture source: US Navy)

This will be the first time the Navy has tested VLS reloading from an offshore support vessel platform, using Military Sealift Command fleet experimentation ship MV Ocean Valor.

The demonstration is being conducted to provide proof of concept that an offshore support vessel can reload the weapons system pierside and while the ship is at sea, with a goal of expanding the capability of VLS reloading in expeditionary environments.

The launch system re-load has been tested previously, in 2016 and 2019, using other Military Sealift Command platforms.

Spruance, named for Adm. Raymond A. Spruance, who commanded U.S. forces at the Battle of Midway, is homeported in San Diego. The ship returned to the Naval Base San Diego in August following a seven-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group 3 to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets. Spruance was also one of 38 ships from 26 partner nations who took part in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022 in the Hawaiian Islands Operating Area from June to August.

Built in 2002, MV Ocean Valor is an MSC-contracted vessel that supports logistics experimentation for fuel, stores, passengers and ordnance delivery.

The USS Spruance is 510 ft in length, has a waterline beam of 59 ft, and a navigational draft of 31 ft. Four gas turbine engines can power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots and push her wherever her country needs her next.

She will be armed with one 5 inches (127 mm)/54 caliber Mk 45 naval gun, 25 mm Mk 38 automatic cannons, four .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns, two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS, two Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedo, 96-cell Mk 41 VLS able to launch RIM-66M medium-range surface-to-air missiles, BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, and RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC anti-submarine missiles.