The 5 inch/54 mount is not to be underestimated.  Not as powerful as an 8" but still no toy.

 

Yes I remember hearing that tale.

When I reported aboard USS Cushing DD985 as a Plankowner, which was a SpruCan, I wasn't impress with either the defensive or offensive weapons. Long after I left the Cushing was retrofitted with a vertical launch system that could carry a variety of munitions.  The ASROC launcher had been removed to make room for it. 

While I was still aboard we received the Harpoon anti-ship system. Eight tubes worth mounted amid-ships. 

One of our sister ships (can't remember which) was the test bed for the Tomahawk using a launch system we later dubbed the over-the-forecastle-targeting system when during testing a mishap occurred where a missile was fired and it headed straight for the water just as it cleared the forecastle.  If I remember correctly the VLS became the launch bed for Tomahawk aboard SpruCans. 

I was never a fan of the Sea Sparrow but have since been told by Sea Sparrow gunners it has improved vastly from my day.  One of my drinking pals maintained our Sea Sparrow and his comment was "c'mon... just how aggressive can a sparrow be?"

We had the MK46 torpedo which I've heard mixed reviews as to how good it was. 

All this is moot.  Cushing was the last ship of the SpruCans to survive and was ultimately sunk during RIMPAC 2008 as a target ship.  My heart nearly broke when I heard that.