Accidents, Collisions
and
Underway Hazards
Last update: 08 Jan 2012
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Most
sailors
learn early on that being at sea in a ship is not without its danger.
Constant changes in weather, sea state, and visibility keeps the
mariner continually on his toes. The unknown dangers of voyaging in
unfamiliar waters can make even the "saltiest of the salty" a little
bit nervous. Continual vigilance and precise navigation are a
prerequisite for arriving at the next port unscathed, but still there
is the potential for running aground, collision with objects or other
vessels, flooding or sinking, and fire.
Below is a list of the events involving the U.S.S. Little Rock where damage was done to the ship or to the egos of those involved. In a few instances injury or worse tend to highlight the danger to those "...that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters." |
| Date(s) of Incident |
Details of Incident (See Notes Below.) |
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| 29 Jul 45 |
Accident
Type: Gunnery Cause: Faulty Ammunition Information: Practice shore bombardment Culebra Island. Mount #3 fired a pair of 5" HE with one shell bursting about 20' out of the barrel. Fragments struck ship starting small fires. |
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| 10 Aug 45 |
Accident
Type: Seamanship Cause: Maneuvering Error Information: Exercised towing with USS Portsmouth. Towing wire fouled Portsmouth rudder or propellers. |
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| 1945-46 |
Accident
Type: Aircraft Cause: Unknown Information: Aircraft lost at sea. Pilot rescued. (Date required) |
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The crew remembers....
From: John
Breslin, S1/C 1945-46: .... from my "Air, Aft"
lookout post behind the highest aft director, I witnessed and described
(on SP phone), our only complete aircraft
loss during my time
aboard. Ensign W. R. Merryman was landing one of our scout planes
south of Cuba, on the smoothed-over water surface our ship always
created for landings, by making a slowed-down sliding turn. As
Ens. Merryman was taxiing up towards our towed recovery netted sled,
his plane suddenly nosed over, engine still turning and tail straight
up in the air. The pilot was pitched forward out of his cockpit,
into a bright, clear sea, teeming with hundreds of visible
sharks.
I reported the sharks immediately on my SP phone, but they were also
clearly visible from all parts of our ship. The OD immediately
ordered the
rescue whaleboat's crew not
to enter the water. But when the swimming pilot was not able to grasp
the boathook,
my buddy and bunk-neighbor, (whose rack was directly across the aisle),
immediately dove over his bow and swam to the pilot who was losing
consciousness. Grasping the pilot's life vest collar,
"Sully", or Coxswain W. M.
Sullivan, swam closer to the whaleboat and then helped push the limp
pilot
aboard, as others pulled him in. "Sully" did get a Life Saving
Medal
for risking a plunge into shark infested waters against orders."
Ed. Note: A U.S. Navy aircraft accident report provides the following information: Accident Date: 8/4/1945 Aircraft Type: SC-1 Aircraft Number: 35555 Ship Number: CL-92 Ship Name: USS LITTLE ROCK Location: OFF CUBA Area: CENLANT Pilot: Name not shown This is most likely the incident referred to be John Breslin, although the date may be off by four days. |
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| 15 Jan 46 |
Accident
Type: Seamanship Cause: Maneuvering Error Information: While getting underway the local harbor pilot backed the ship into the dock, making a small dent in the stern. Prop wash creates havoc, but no real damage to adjacent ships. |
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The crew remembers....
From Cdr. Arthur Schultz's letters: "Today we started bravely forth, only to have the pilot back us into the dock. We put a dent in our rear, but not a very big one. However, the turbulence from our power screws washed a couple of small Brazilian motor ships free of their moorings. You never saw such a mad scrambling sight in your life. The inboard ship had its lines part with a bang, and of course the water hose broke in two and sprayed everyone in the vicinity. The excitable Brazilian sailors went head over heels in all directions. No damage was done except to the lines, so with our apologies everyone thought it was a big joke. However we had to anchor out in the blue harbor while a couple of our divers went down to inspect our screws. Everything was all right, so about 1000 we got underway again and soon were at sea again in the midst of a hot, sparkling day." |
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| 13 Dec 46 |
Accident
Type: Gunnery Cause: Unknown Information: Little Rock hits USS Missouri with starshell during gunnery practice. |
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| 31
Dec 46 |
Accident
Type: Aircraft Cause: Unknown Information: Aircraft and pilot Lt(jg) Charles R. Fitzpatrick lost at sea. On the afternoon of 31 Dec 1946 USS Little Rock (CL-92) pilot Charles R. Fitzpatrick, Lt(jg), USNR died after his SC-1 crashed off the coast of New Jersey. Below are the accident details as provided by the Aircraft Accident Card: Date: 31 December 1946 (shows correction from 1947), Approx. 1310 Pilot’s Name, Rank and Service Group or Unit to Which Pilot Attached: FITZPATRICK, Charles R., Lt.(jg) USNR, USS LITTLE ROCK Location: Approx 3 mi E Rehoboth Beach, Del. Unit to which aircraft assigned: USS LITTLE ROCK CL-92, ComAirLant, NAS Norfolk, VA, NAS Quonset Pt. R.I. Pilot (License?): Expired, Restricted Total Hours: 800 Total Hours This Model: 166 Total Hrs. Last 1 Months: 30 Hrs. This Model Last 1 Months: 30 Hours This Flight: 1 hr. 25 min. Previous Accident Record: (None) Injuries to Pilot: Fatal (???): X-Country Serial No. (of Report): 1 - 47 Type of Clearance: Contact Maneuver or Angle of Impact, Stopping Distance, Est. Speed: Unknown Check Off Items: - It is believed that pilot flew into an area of freezing rain and snow which was in the immediate area where parts were recovered. Analysis: Pilot was not found, only a small portion of main float was found, and analysis of accident is undetermined. Additional info hand-written on Accident Card: Some additional gear recovered including pilots shoes and flying boots. Body not recovered. Aircraft heard to crash in bad snow storm by fishermen who recovered gear described above. |
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| 22 Jul 47 |
Accident
Type: Seamanship Cause: Maneuvering Error Information: Log entry: "0815 Breasted ship from alongside CL-82 to Pier 4. Rudder and screws touched mud, shoulder in 20' of water." |
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| 18 Aug 47 |
Accident
Type: Equipment Failure Cause: Unknown Information: Log entry" "1104 Lost steering control - shifted to emergency steering in hanger." |
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| 17 Sep 47 |
Accident
Type: Aircraft Accident Cause: Unknown Information: Aviators Lt. E.E. Sandoval and Lt. B.F. Hoffman down at sea - located and recovered late at night. |
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The crew remembers....
From: Al Yoder, FC2C, 1946-1949: "I
don't remember Lt. Fitzpatrick being killed. I have the names of
two other pilots, LT B.F. Hoffman & LT E.E. Sandoval. These two got
lost and
landed on the calm ocean off Newport (RI). I think I remember
they were
located somehow and the destroyers and Little Rock took off at high
speed.
The impressive thing was that after an hour the Rock passed all the
destroyers
and arrived at the downed aircraft & recovered them. I don't
know
any
other details." |
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| 31 Oct 47 |
Accident
Type: Crew Injury/Death Cause: Accident Information: BM1 D.H. Butler died when crushed between ship and chain to buoy. |
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| 06
Jan 48 |
Accident
Type: Aircraft Accident Cause: Unknown Information: Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk crashes and sinks. Pilot Ens. Logan is rescued. (See Notes 3 and 4.) |
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 Ens. Logan standing on SC-1 float. |
 Little Rock's Motor Whale Boat approaches Ens. Logan. |
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| 30 Aug - 02 Sep 48 |
Accident
Type: Storm Damage Cause: Weather Information: Got underway from Newport, RI (30 Aug) to avoid hurricane. At 0320 (31 Aug) lost #3 motor whale boat over port side. Unable to estimate storm damage due to weather conditions. On 02 Sep at 1554 moored at NY Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, NY. Naval shipyard reps investigated storm damage to ship and listed required repairs, 42 in number. |
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| 23 Sep 48 |
Accident
Type: Seamanship Cause: Maneuvering Error Information: USS Hugh Purvis DD-709 collided with Little Rock (starboard side) while refueling, incurring some damage. Log reads: " 0625 Prepared to refuel USS Hugh Purvis DD-709 and while fueling was hit by the Purvis on the starboard side incurring some damage." |
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The
crew remembers....
Received from Jim Melvin ETN2 (USS Pervis/USS Fiske): "I also did some reserve duty time on the USS Hugh Purvis DD-709. (Regarding)... 23 September '48 - It seems the Purvis not only steamed with the Little Rock, well before my time, but rammed her during a refueling. A bit more up close and personal than most would prefer. Makes an old ET glad he never had any responsibilities during "special sea and anchor details." |
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| 02 Jan 49 |
Accident
Type: Storm Damage Cause: Weather Information: Heavy weather in harbor damaged ship - temporary repairs made |
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| Jul 1962 | Accident
Type: Crew Injury/Death Cause: Equipment Failure Information: GMM Richard Smith died as a result of injuries received in the Missile House Magazine (Area 3) from a high-pressure hydraulic line failure. |
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| 27 May - 03 Jun 63 |
Accident
Type: Food Contamination Cause: Unknown Information: While in Trieste, Italy a general illnes soccured after a fantail party - contaminated food suspected. |
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| 1967 or 1968 |
Accident
Type: Seamanship Cause: Undetermined Information: "In 1967 or 68 we attempted to med moor in Naples Italy. We hit the dock so hard that it knocked some of us off our feet. If that was not enough we pulled forward and hit the dock again. It opened up a hole across the stern above the water line, thankfully. The best I can remember the hole was about 4 or 5 inches wide and went from the port side to the starboard side. The CO had men working around the clock so the could get under way on time which we did, even though the paint was still wet. Lt. Hallinan may be able to give more details." Note: The above was received from Obert Blaisdell, BM3, 1966 - 1968, 1st Division |
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| 1967 ??? |
Accident Type: Seamanship Cause: Maneuvering Error Information: USS Little Rock involved in a collision at sea with the USS Saratoga CV-60. (Need to verify date). |
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The crew remembers....
From: LitComs (Winter 1995 / 1996) article: "Close Call in the Med Nearly Spells Disaster for Little Rock in 1967. What Really Happened?", by Bruce Stewart. "The pictures shown (see below) were sent to me in 1968 by a former shipmate - I had already departed Little Rock in June, 1967... My buddy gave me a brief description of the incident... it went something like this. Someone in the task force (presumably the Admiral) gave the command for all ships to change course. Apparently, some ships got the message and some didn't, (the) result being that Little Rock ended up crossing the bow of the carrier she was running with..." - - - - - - - - - - -
The following was received from BT3 John Hudson (1966-1969) "I was a BT back in '67 and was watching the jets take off from the carrier and noticed we were close. I had to get back to the boiler room and relieve the watch for chow. That's when it all broke loose. I had the watch that maintained the water level in the boiler and that’s hard to do when the ship is changing speed, from backdown to flank and then big rolls. We didn’t know what was going on until the guys got back from dinner. Then we got scared. Down in the hole you just got the bells and hung on. That was a wild ride." |
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 Photo #1 |
 Photo #2 |
 Photo #3 |
 Photo #4 |
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 Photo #5 |
 Photo #6 |
 Photo #7 |
 Photo #8 |
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 Photo #9 |
 Photo #10 |
USS Saratoga and USS Little Rock "bump" in the Med, ca. 1967 1. Click any photo for a larger picture. 2. Photos #1-6, and #9 provided by Joe Stine GMM-3 66-69. 3. Photos #7, #8, and #10 are from Bruce Stewart JO3 65-67. 4. Not much has been published about this incident. If you have any recollection, especially if you were a "participant", please contact the webmaster. 5. Photos #1 - #6 and #9 were taken from the 02 level (on top of the Missile House). Photos #7 and #8 appear to be taken from the 04 or 05 level. 6. Photo #10 was taken by CPL Larry McKay (USMC) who was standing on top of the missile house when he took the photo. Photo sent in by Dave Reid CT3 66-67. |
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| 13 Jun 70 |
Accident
Type: Seamanship Cause: Maneuvering Error Information: Little Rock is in a minor collision with the Greek destroyer Lonchi (HNS D-56) (ex USS Hall DD583 in the Gulf of Laconia off Greece during the NATO exercise "Dawn Patrol 70". |
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Notes:
The Greek destroyer Lonchi D-56, ex-USS Hall DD583 was a Fletcher class destroyer, laid down by Boston Navy Yard 16 Apr 42, launched 18 Jul 42 and commissioned 06 Jul 43. She was decommissioned 10 Dec 46, then loaned to Greece 09 Feb 60 and renamed Lonchi ("Spear", or "Lance"). Again decommissioned on 01 Oct 90, she was stricken 10 Oct 90 then scrapped in 1997 at Aliaga, Turkey. See also Hellenic (Greek) Navy Page. |
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The
Crew Remembers....
From: Frank Maxwell
QMCM(SW) USN(Ret.)"...we were scheduled for a gunfire support exercise in Greece that morning as part of a NATO exercise. Little Rock was proceeding into the bay at about 10 knots. About 0400, a Greek destroyer on patrol of the bay appeared out of the darkness. We exchanged call signs, and it looked as if she would pass our port side at about 2000 yards. When she was about a mile forward of our bow, she turned hard to port, directly into our path. The conning officer ordered hard right rudder and all back full. But it was too late, we hit the Greek destroyer (an old Geering Class) amidships. The impact drove our motor whaleboat into our stack and badly bent our bow... I don't remember if anyone was hurt. I do remember we had to go to the shipyards in Malta for a week to get our "Broken Nose" fixed and, of course, a week of that "terrible" Malta liberty. If you look closely at the bow today, l am sure you can still see the weld marks. ...I was a QM2 then. " - - - - - Phil Baratta PN2 asks: "Does anyone remember that they put the Chemical alarm on instead of Collision alarm? We also had a Chief from X Division that made us all go back and put on our clothes while we were mustering up on deck." - - - - - Received via email on 18 Jul 2010 from Richard Powers HM2: "I just sort of stumbled across this web site. I was a crew member on the USS Little Rock when we collided with the Greek Destroyer. I was an HM2 at the time and my sleeping compartment was in the forward part of the ship. The collision happened before revelry, around 0500, I believe. I remember hearing an alarm and sitting up in my rack in the darkened compartment and wondering what the hell it meant. A few seconds later there was a big jolt. I thought we had run aground. They then sounded general quarters and we gradually found out what happened. I do remember that they sounded the chemical alert siren because the collision siren wasn’t working (although I wouldn’t have known what either one sounded like). I was a crew member of the Rock for about a year and a half after this incident and was on board when we got a permanent bow repair in drydock in Boston. " |
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 HNS Lonchi D-56 Underway (1) |
 HNS Lonchi Midships Damage (2) |
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 Bow Damage to USS Little Rock (2) |
 U.S.S. Little Rock Underway With Bow Damage and Crew Paraded on Deck (2) |
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 USS Little Rock arrives in Valletta, Malta for temporary repairs to her bow. An Associated Press photo donated by: Wayne (MU2 68-70) & Sharon McDermott
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| 01 May 76 |
Accident
Type: Equipment Failure Cause: Data not available Information: Casualty in the main engine lube oil system while operating in the Tyrrhenian Sea requires Little Rock to go to Naples for repairs. |
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| Notes: |
(1) See Hellenic Navy
website, (2) Received from shipmate Franklin W. Davis III (FN, 1968-1972) (3) Photos donated by Walde Lindemann (ADAN 1946-49). (4) To see additional Curtiss SC-1 data and photos click HERE. |
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Details regarding each of the above incidents are from various sources. Your input is invaluable in helping us get the facts correct.
Contact the Webmaster if you have information, documents or photos about any of the above incidents. Please be specific.
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