Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski


Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

CLASS - CLEVELAND
Displacement 10,000 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 1" (oa) x 66' 4" x 25' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/47, 12 x 5"/38AA, 28 x 40mm, 10 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 5" Belt, 6" Turrets, 2" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 100,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 1255.
Operational and Building Data
Ordered 29 OCT 1940
Keel laid on 06 March 1943 by Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia, PA
Launched 27 AUG 1944
Commissioned 17 JUN 1945
Decommissioned 24 JUN 1949
Reclassified CLG 4 23 MAY 1957
Commissioned 03 JUN 1960
Collision with Greek destroyer Lonzhi 13 JUN 1970
Reclassified CG 4 1 JUL 1975
Decommissioned 22 NOV 1976
Stricken 22 NOV 1976
Fate: Transfered to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
as a Museum ship on 01 JUN 1977

William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company facilities, 15 March 1943. Cruisers visible in this photo:

Far right - Miami (CL 89) - Furthest along; aft turrets and catapults in place.
Left of Miami is Astoria (CL 90) - she is about a month behind Miami.
Left of Astoria, in the large shipway, is Oklahoma City (CL 91) - a significant portion of hull has been built.
Lefr of Oklahoma City is Little Rock (CL 92) - Keel was just been laid on 6 March, which is visible under crane structure.

Note the 8 submarines in various stages of construction to the left of the Little Rock (4 per shipway). They are most likely:

Devilfish (SS 292)
Dragonet (SS 293)
Escolar (SS 294)
Hackleback (SS 295)
Lancetfish (SS 296)
Ling (SS 297)
Lionfish (SS 298)
Manta (SS 299)

The shipyard's submarine construction program was not especially successful. Poor management hindered the delivery of the boats. The first delivery was made two years after keel laying, and fitting out was then done by Portsmouth Navy Yard. The best construction time for a submarine was 644 days.

The USS Little Rock (CL 92) is poised on the ways of the Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, PA. The ship is ready for launching, 27 August 1944.

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, George D. McDowell Collection.

USS Providence (CL 82); USS Little Rock (CL 92); and USS Portsmouth (CL 102) (listed left to right) At San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15 May 1948. Note the differing radar antenna rigs, and other details of these three Cleveland class light cruisers, each ten numbers apart in the cruiser hull number series.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-343434.

USS Little Rock (CL 92) In the Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts, 30 June 1948. Courtesy of Captain Don Fink, 1983.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94939.

USS Little Rock seen in October 1948 during a Sixth Fleet visit to Greece.

Stern view of the light cruisers USS Providence (CL 82) and USS Little Rock (CL 92) in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, February, 1950 at Bayonne, New Jersey.

Life Magazine Archives, Herbert Gehr photographer. Shared by David DeForest.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) At the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, 19 December 1959, while completing conversion to a guided missile ship.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98972.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View amidships on the port side, looking forward, taken at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, 19 December 1959, while she was completing conversion to a guided missile ship. Note details of the ship's forward superstructure, smokestack, boat davit and stowage racks for inflatable life rafts.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98973.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View looking forward along the port side, from off the after superstructure, 19 December 1959. Taken at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, while she was completing conversion to a guided missile ship. Note SPG-49 guidance radars for Little Rock's "Talos" missile system (in lower right) and the very large diamond-shaped antenna for her SPS-2 height-finding search radar (atop the after superstructure).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98974.

Port bow aerial view while conducting her Preliminary Acceptance Trials in the Atlantic, during May 1960.

U.S. Navy Photo.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Rear Admiral Charles H. Lyman, USN, speaking during the ship's commissioning ceremonies, at the Philadelphia Naval Base, Pennsylvania, 3 June 1960. Note "Talos" guided missiles behind the speaker's platform.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98963.

Five year old Pamela Marks, of Haddonfield, New Jersey, waves to her father, First Class Petty Officer E.L. Marks, who is serving on the USS Little Rock (CLG 4) on 3 June 1960. The Little Rock has just been commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, in her new role, a guided missile light cruiser.

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, George D. McDowell Collection.

Undated starboard bow view while at anchor. The crew appears to be at quarters.

U.S. Navy photo.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Underway on 13 October 1960. Photographed by PH1 Kinley.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH98948.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Underway on 13 October 1960. Photographed by PH1 Kinley.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98949.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) "Talos" guided missiles on the ship's missile launcher, November 1960. Note the insignia on the launcher, depicting a missile hitting an airplane, SPG-49 missile guidance radars pointed in the same direction as the launcher, and the large diamond-shaped antenna for the ship's SPS-2 radar.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph #KN-1120.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Launches a "Talos" guided missile. The original photograph bears the rubber-stamped date 1 November 1960, but was accompanied by a press release describing missile firings in February 1961 and identifying the photographer as Seaman Virgil Sawyer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98964.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) At the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in December 1960, probably while undergoing an inclining experiment. Note scaffolding around her masts.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98975.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View amidships on the starboard side, taken the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in December 1960, probably while she was undergoing an inclining experiment. Note boat stowage and handling arrangements. Boats appear to include a motor whaleboat, two personnel boats and a utility boat.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98976.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Steams off El Morro Fortress, on the northwest tip of San Juan, Puerto Rico, circa 1960. Note the old cannon in the fort, including five muzzle-loading types at left and a late-19th Century breech-loading rifle in the center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98951.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Underway at sea, while operating with a Second Fleet task force, 19 January 1961. Taken by PHC C.A. Berntsen, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98952.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Fires a "Talos" guided missile, during exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, 4 May 1961. Taken by PH3 D.R. Botts, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98953.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Fires a "Talos" guided missile while off San Juan, Puerto Rico, 16 November 1961. Taken by Seaman Lenhoff.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98954.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Underway on 8 November 1962.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98958.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View of the ship's after superstructure, from starboard, while she was undergoing an inclining experiment at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 11 January 1963. The large round antenna for her newly-installed SPS-30 radar is in the top center of the image. Ship in the background appears to be USS Diamond Head (AE 19).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98977.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Underway at sea, circa 1965. This photograph, which was received by "All Hands" magazine on 9 June 1965, was accompanied by the following caption: "The guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG 4) will take over temporary duty as flagship for Commander Second Fleet Vice Admiral K.S. Masterson on June 19th."

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98955.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) At the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, for a 32-week repair and overhaul period. The ship was relieved as flagship for Commander Second Fleet on 12 January 1966 and entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 17 January. The original photograph was received by "All Hands" magazine on 1 February 1966.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98959.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View of the ship's forward superstructure, taken while she was undergoing an inclining experiment at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 28 September 1966.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98978.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View of the ship's foredeck area, taken while she was undergoing an inclining experiment at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 28 September 1966. Note her twin 5"/38 gun mount and triple 6"/47 gun turret, with anchor-handling gear and a large NTDS antenna beyond.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98979.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View amidships, from port, taken while the ship was undergoing an inclining experiment at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 28 September 1966. Note motor whaleboat suspended from the sliding davit, with a utility boat stowed immediately aft.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98980.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) View of the ship's after superstructure, from starboard, taken while the ship was undergoing an inclining experiment at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 28 September 1966. Note SPG-49 (at left & left center) and SPW-2 (at top center) guidance radars for her "Talos" missile system, and inflatable life rafts stowed around the deckhouse sides.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98981.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) in the Mediterranean photographed from USS America (CVA 66) - 1967
While no longer a “machine gun cruiser”, she was probably more than capable of taking on the Soviet ships that harassed the task force during the “1967 Mediterranean Crisis” 

LIFE Magazine Archives - Bill Ray Photographer

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) in the Mediterranean photographed from USS America (CVA 66) - 1967
While no longer a “machine gun cruiser”, she was probably more than capable of taking on the Soviet ships that harassed the task force during the “1967 Mediterranean Crisis” 

LIFE Magazine Archives - Bill Ray Photographer

Flagship of the Sixth Fleet, the light guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG-4) steams slowly before dropping anchor off the coast of Gaeta, Italy in 1967. Photographer: O.J Fortin, PHC. From the collection of CDR Thomas B. Ray (USS Essex CV 9)

U.S. Navy photo #1120643

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) in port at dusk, circa 1967. The original photograph was received by "All Hands" magazine on 26 December 1967. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

USNHC Photo #NH 98960.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) At anchor in the harbor at Gaeta, Italy, her home port as flagship of the Sixth Fleet, March 1967. Taken by PHC H.L. Wise, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98956.

The damaged US Navy Intelligence ship USS Liberty (AGTR 5) which had been damaged on 8 June 1967 in the Mediterranean Sea by Israeli forces during the Six Days War. The picture was taken from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS America (CVA 66). To the right is the guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG 4), flagship of the 6th Fleet.  

U.S. Navy Photo from the USS America 1967 Cruise Book, p. 238.
 

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Leaving Naples Bay, Italy, on 31 July 1967, while serving as flagship of the Sixth Fleet. Taken by PH2 J.E. Higgins, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98957.

USS Little Rock (CLG-4) and the USS Springfield (CLG 7) refueling from the USS Chikaskia (AO 54) in the Mediterranean Sea, Southeast of Palma de Majorca, Spain in 1967.

From the collection of Clarence Wolfe.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Docked at Rota Naval Station, Spain, 27 August 1970.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph #K-86514.

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Undergoing an inclining experiment at the Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts, 28 March 1971.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98982.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 82583 .

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) underway in the Mediterranean Sea, 5 January 1972. Taken by PH1 Robert D. Fennell, USN. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

USNHC Photo #NH 98961

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1974. Photograph received from the ship, 1974. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

USNHC Photo #NH 83498-KN

USS Little Rock (CLG 4) Fires her 6"/47 guns during exercises on the Salto di Guirra missile range, off Sardinia, 23 April 1975.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph #K-108728.

The forecastle of the Guided Missile Light Cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG 4) as the ship was steaming in the Suez Canal, en route to Port Said for ceremonies reopening the canal, 5 June 1975. Taken by Commander J.P. Mathews.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Photo #NH 98966.

USS Little Rock (CG 4) steaming with USS Saratoga (CV 60) and other units of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, en route to an anchorage near Gaeta, Italy, on 16 March 1976. The ships are returning from a training exercise.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center # NH 98962.

Sixth Fleet units: left to right, aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV 60) and guided missile cruiser USS Little Rock (CG 4), with escorts.

Photos from the collection of Jeff Padell, PH3, USS Independence, Mediterranean Sea, 1976 (15 October 1975–5 May 1976) Carrier Air Wing 7 (tail code "AG")