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A Chronological History
of the U.S. Navy Cruiser
U.S.S. LITTLE ROCK
CL92 / CLG4 / CG4


Last updated: 23 Jan 2012


1957 - 1965

1957     1958     1959     1960     1961     1962     1963     1964     1965



1957
 
13 Jan

USS LITTLE ROCK (CL92) arrives at New York Ship Building, Camden NJ for conversion preparation.
30 Jan
Conversion started to change LITTLE ROCK to CLG (Galveston-class) configuration.
23 May
LITTLE ROCK CL92 designation changed to CLG4.

1958 - 1959

1958 -1959

Undergoing conversion to Guided Missile Cruiser at New York Shipbuilding Corp. Camden, NJ.
19 Dec 59

Moored at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, NJ. (Picture)


1960

27 Apr

Undergoing builder's trials.
06 May

Delivered to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
03 Jun




USS LITTLE ROCK CLG4 is commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard by Rear Admiral
Charles H. Lyman, Commandant of the 4th Naval District.. Capt. Jewett O. Phillips  assumes command, and Senator J. William Fulbright (AR) delivers the commissioning address. Also in attendance is Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Materiel, Cecil P. Milne and over 2000 spectators.
Click HERE to see a list of CLG 4 Plankowners
21 Jun
Albert A. Sevey YN1 becomes first sailor to reenlist on LITTLE ROCK as CLG4.
25 Jul
Depart Philadelphia NSY for NWS Yorktown, VA.
26 Jul
Moored at Naval Weapons Station pier to load missile and ammunition.
27 Jul
Underway for Virginia Capes, Operations Area, Night steaming.
28 Jul
Conduct test firing and calibration of 5" and 6" guns.
29 Jul

0900 Degaussing Range
1300 Moored at Naval Base, Norfolk, VA
30-31 Jul
Upkeep in port.
01 Aug
Underway for Virginia Capes, Operations Area. Swing ship. Night steaming.
02-04 Aug
At sea. Electronics calibration.
05 Aug
Return to Norfolk Naval Base.
06-07 Aug
Upkeep in port.
29 Aug

Underway off Virginia Capes conducting Talos Missile Slug launches to test for "adequacy of the protection for the TALOS launching system personnel against blast effects and to determine the effects of the booster blast on the ship's structure". USS SHAKORI (ATF-162) provided high-speed photographic coverage of the booster exhaust stream. Three launches conducted on 29 Aug 1960.
30 Aug

Underway off Virginia Capes conducting Talos Missile Slug launches (see above).
Three launches were conducted on 30 Aug 1960.
05 Sep
Arrive Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for shakedown cruise training.
? Sep
San Juan, Puerto Rico
17-19 Sep
LITTLE ROCK makes her first foreign port of call (as CLG4) at Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.
13 Oct
At sea. (Picture 1 ) (Picture 2)
15 Oct
Depart Guantanamo Bay, for missile firing range. LITTLE ROCK fired eight Talos missiles during the following two-week period
21 Oct

USS LITTLE ROCK gets a direct hit on a radio-controlled drone at 60 miles.
LITTLE ROCK receives a 100% for her Missile Operational Readiness.
21-23 Oct
Saint Thomas, VI.
31 Oct - 03 Nov
Final Acceptance Trials - San Juan, PR
05 Nov
Depart San Juan, PR for Philadelphia, PA
?? Nov
Underway (Picture)
11 Nov
Arrive Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for drydocking and approximately two months post-shakedown outfitting. (Picture)
25 Dec
Christmas in Philadelphia NSY, Philadelphia, PA


1961

01 - 03 Jan

At Philadelphia NSY, Philadelphia, PA. (Picture)
04 Jan
Underway for Norfolk, VA. Embark RADM James W. Davis ComCruDesFour.
09 Jan
Depart Norfolk with ComCruDesFour for U.S. Atlantic Fleet Exercise 1-61
19 Jan
At sea (Picture)
20 Jan

Concluded U.S. Atlantic Fleet Exercise 1-61.
Detached to Philadelphia Naval Base for preparations for Med cruise.
25 Jan
Capt. Frederick A. Chenault relieves Capt. Jewett O. Phillips
09 Feb


USS LITTLE ROCK departs Philadelphia, PA for first European cruise as CLG4.
(This is the first major deployment of a Talos guided missile cruiser.)
USS LITTLE ROCK deployed as Flagship for  COMCRUDIVFOUR.
18 Feb
Transited Straits of Gibraltar (first time as CLG4)
18-20 Feb

Pollensa Bay, Island of Mallorca (1st stop in the Med!)
Attack Carrier Striking Group also present, at anchor.
20 Feb
Relieved USS DES MOINES CA134 at Pollensa Bay, Mallorca
24-26 Feb
Valletta, Malta (1st port call in the Med!)
28 Feb - 02 Mar
Naples, Italy
06-09 Mar
Operating out of Cannes, France.
07 Mar
At French CERES missile range for missile shoot, however French drone(s) failed to deploy. Shoot canceled.
09 Mar
At CERES missile range. Talos intercepts CT20 drone. This is first Talos launch without civilian technical assistance.
13 Mar
Steaming toward Gulf of Catania - three Russian “trawlers”
16 Mar
At sea. Conducting Anti-submarine and Air Defense exercises.
18 Mar
VADM Anderson ComSixthFlt arrives for overnight visit.
23 Mar

Transit Dardanelles enroute to Istanbul, Turkey. Steaming in company with USS Shangrila CVA38, USS Purvis DD709, and Destroyer Division 322.
24-29 Mar

Istanbul, Turkey.
RADM Francis T. Williamson relieves RADM James W. Davis as ComCruDesFour
27 Mar
Personnel Inspection
31 Mar


At sea.
Good Friday Services held on Mess Decks.
Conducted Electronic Countermeasures exercises.
31 Mar - 03 Apr
Little Rock at Izmir, Turkey.
04 - 08 Apr


Underway with Task Unit 60.2.1.
USS PURVIS DD-709 uses drone launched from Little Rock for anti-aircraft firing exercise.
08 Apr
Istanbul, Turkey
10-11 Apr
Taranto, Italy
14 Apr
Rota, Spain
16 Apr


At sea.
Anti-submarine exercises.
1300 (approx.) Refuel from USS NANTAHALA AO60.
17 - 19 Apr
On this day in history....  Cuba "Bay of Pigs" Invasion.
19 Apr
Rota, Spain
21 - 24 Apr


At Bordeaux, France as flagship of US 6th Fleet (VADM George W. Martin) for  meeting of European-American Association Council.
General James "Jumpin Jim" Gavin, US Ambassador to France, visits USS LITTLE ROCK.
25 Apr

Bay of Biscay - 40 Knot winds & heavy seas with damage to forward areas.
Operating with USS ROOSEVELT CVA 42, USS MULLINNIX DD 944 and several othe 6th Fleet destroyers.
01 - 04 May
LITTLE ROCK arrives Cannes France - French film festival
04 May
Missile Firing Exercise (Picture)
15 - 22 May
Athens, Greece
22 May


Underway from Athens.
"At 1403 a jet aircraft launched from USS ROOSEVELT crashed about 100 yards ahead of carrier. USS MULLINNIX DD 944 was directed to undertake rescue of downed pilot....
At 1530, USS Little Rock CLG 4 and USS Laffey DD 724 joined in the search.....
The pilot was never recovered.
"

(Excerpted from “The Last Gun Ship - History of USS Mullinnix DD-944” - A Historical Novel by Frank A. Wood)

27 May - 09 Jun
Cannes, France
Anchored in Gulfo De La Napoule with USS Roosevelt CVA 42,  USS Salamonie AO 26,
USS Shasta AE 6, and destroyers USS Hawkins DDR 873, USS Johnson DD 821, and
USS Rush DDR 714.
16 Jun
Anchored off coast of Turkey for "Swim Call"
21 - 26 Jun

At Rhodes, Greece.
Midshipmen arrive for 6 week summer cruise. (MEDMIDCRUISE 1-61)
26 Jun - 05 Jul


At Naples, Italy
Naple hosting the Naples Invitational Softball Tournament, a five-day elimination tournament.
LITTLE ROCK loses to MULLINNIX
03 Jul

ComCruDiv4 arrives for one day visit.
CinCSouth arrives for evening visit.
04 Jul
Full Dress Ship.
05 - 09 Jul
Operations at sea.
10 - 17 Jul
Genoa, Italy
17 - 21 Jul
Major Fleet Exercises
22 Jul
At Naples, Italy to exchange Midshipmen for another 6 week cruise. (MEDMIDCRUISE 1-61)
26 Jul

Fleet Anchorage, Aranci Bay.
USS LITTLE ROCK awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" (Atlantic Fleet Cruiser Forces) award, as well as "E"s for both gun mounts and missile system, green "C" for communications systems, and green "E" for  operations.
29 Jul - 07 Aug
Livorno, Italy
29 Jul
Enrique Avila and 11 other Italian movie stars visit Little Rock.
07 - 13 Aug
Major Fleet Exercises
10 Aug
CS2 Roger R. Sellers reenlists for 6 years.
13 Aug

East Germany erects Berlin Wall
14 Aug
Livorno, Italy.
14 - 16 Aug
At Fleet Anchorage Golfo de Palmas, Mallorca (to be relieved by USS NEWPORT NEWS CA148)
15 Aug

LITTLE ROCK relieved as flagship (VADM David L. McDonald) by USS NEWPORT NEWS.
16 Aug

ENS William G. Stoops relieves LTJG Kevin Wilson as Disbursing Officer.
USS LITTLE ROCK departs for CONUS.
18 Aug

Transit Straits of Gibraltar.
USS LITTLE ROCK rejoins 2nd Fleet.
29 Aug
Arrive Boston, MA.
30 Aug

Arrive Norfolk, VA for 30 days leave and upkeep.
01 Sep
USS LITTLE ROCK joins Cruiser Division Two.
08 Sep

VADM John McN. Taylor assumes command of U.S. Second Fleet.
06 Oct
VADM Taylor shifts flag to USS Little Rock from USS Northampton CC1.
16 Oct
Depart Norfolk for 2nd Fleet ops in Atlantic
28-29 Oct
LITTLE ROCK at Morehead City, NC.
04 Nov
Arrive Norfolk, VA
13 Nov
Depart NORVA with 5 SecNav guests for San Juan, PR.
16-17 Nov
Missile Firing Exercise off Puerto Rico.
18 Nov

Disembark SecNav guests.
USS LITTLE ROCK ordered to international waters off Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to provide an element of stability during the uncertainty and unrest following the assassination of Rafael Trujillo.
25 Nov (?)
Depart for Norfolk, VA
?? Nov
Arrived Norfolk, VA.


1962

08 Jan
Depart Norfolk for Atlantic Fleet Exercises.
12-14 Jan
Mayport, FL
18-19 Jan
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
20-24 Jan
Operated off southern coast
?? Jan

Kingston, Jamaica
20-26 Jan
Per OPNAV NOTICE 1650, USS LITTLE ROCK crew, attached to the ship during this period are entitled to the Navy Expeditionary Medal for Cuba. (Ribbon)
25 Jan
Arrived back at Norfolk, VA
01 Feb
USS LITTLE ROCK selected “Ship of the Month” by Our Navy Magazine
07 Feb
Capt. James R. Payne relieves Capt. Frederic A. Chenault.
12 Feb
Depart Norfolk, VA for Bayonne, NJ. for 2 day stay.
15 Feb (?)
Depart Bayonne, NJ for Nassau, Bahamas
??? Feb
Nassau, Bahamas
21 Feb
Arrived Norfolk, VA
01 Mar

Boston, MA ???
09 Mar
Depart Norfolk, VA for Bermuda
11-12 Mar
Bermuda
15 Mar
Entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA for overhaul and new equipment installation.
19 Mar

Entered drydock at for general overhaul, Sonar equipment and Electronic Detection equipment installation and new Gas Turbine Generator, connected to Aft Distribution Panel in Aft Fire Rm.
19 Mar - ???

In drydock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA.
31 Jul
E8 & E9 Exams
02 Aug
E6 Exams
07 Aug
E5 Exams
09 Aug
E4 Exams
12 Oct - 23 Oct
Cuban Missile Crisis and Naval Blockade  (History)
08 Nov
At Sea. (Picture)
Nov - Dec
LITTLE ROCK in Portsmouth for remainder of 1962


1963

11 Jan

At Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, VA conducting Inclining Experiments.
05 Feb
Depart Portsmouth NSY for Yorktown, VA.   
LITTLE ROCK onloads new "impoved" TALOS missiles
09 Feb
ComCruDesFltEight broke his flag on LITTLE ROCK
11 Feb
Underway for Caribbean Sea for RefTra and TALOS missile tests.
22 - 24 Feb
St. Thomas, VI
Mar (var. dates)

Operating out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba LITTLE ROCK conducts a series of successful missile firings at Roosevelt Roads, PR
30 - 31 Mar
Kingston, Jamaica
14 Apr
LITTLE ROCK arrives back at Norfolk, VA
01 May
Depart for Mediterranean.
09 May
Passed through Straits of Gibraltar
11 May
Arrived at Toulon, France and relieved USS SPRINGFIELD CLG-7 as Sixth Fleet Flagship.
VADM William E. Gentner Jr. breaks his flag on board LITTLE ROCK.
14 May
Depart Toulon for Villefranche, France
15 - 20 May
At Villefranche, France
20 May
Transited the Adriatic Sea - 70% of crew sick
21 May
Talos missile launch
27 May - 03 Jun
Trieste, Italy. General illness after fantail party - contaminated food suspected.
?? Jun

U.S.S. LITTLE ROCK Marines "adopt" Teresa Mistico of Naples, Italy
08 - 11 Jun
Rhodes, Greece
19 - 25 Jun
Beruit, Lebanon
27 Jun
Cdr. D.A. Johnson relieves Cdr. J.B. Randolph as XO of LITTLE ROCK.
29 Jun - 08 Jul
At Villefranche, France
08 Jul - 13 Jul
At sea
13 Jul - 22 Jul
Villefranche, France
27 Jul - 02 Aug
Barcelona, Spain
05 - 10 Aug

At Genoa, Italy
Giuseppe Cardinal Siri, the Archbishp of Genoa, visited the ship during its stopover at Genoa.
While aboard Little Rock, Cardinal Siri met with Vice Admiral William E. Gentner Jr.
15 - 19 Aug
La Spezia, Italy
18 Aug

U.S.S. LITTLE ROCK helo rescues Italian woman after the boat in which she was a passenger capsized. Helo pilot Lt(jg) Leif A. Elstad subsequently receives the Bronze Medal of Naval Valor (Italy), Crewman C.W. Adams ADR3 who jumped to rescue the woman receives a Silver Medal of Naval Valor (Italy) and crewman G.C. Woody ADJ2 receives a Commendation of Naval Valor (Italy). Medals and Commendation were presented at the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno by VADM Francesco Baslini.  (See Awards & Recognition page.)
19 - 22 Aug
Livorno, Italy
23 Aug
Arrived Palma, Majorca, Spain.
26 Aug
Capt. C. Edwin Bell relieves Capt. James R. Payne as CO of LITTLE ROCK at Palma, Majorca, Spain.  Remarks made by Captain Frederic A. Chenault who represented VADM William Gentner COMSIXTHFLEET.
27 Aug
Depart Palma, Majorca, Spain.
30 Aug - 09 Sep
Villefranche, France
27 Sep - 01 Oct
Istanbul, Turkey
02 - 03 Oct
Izmir, Turkey
05 - 07 Oct
Famagusta, Cyprus. Visited by Archbishop Makarios, Head of State, Cyprus.
11 - 13 Oct
Taranto, Italy
14 - 17 Oct
Split, Yugoslavia. Only communist nation visited by LITTLE ROCK to date.
27 Oct - 04 Nov
Villefranche, France
?? Nov

U.S.S. LITTLE ROCK Enlisted Navy Wives met at the home of Mrs. Gloria Land to elect new officers.  Those elected were:
       Mrs. Carol Yerkes - President
       Mrs. Shirley Repass - Vice President (wife of MT1 Herbert L. Repass)
       Mrs. Marilin Outzs - Secretary (wife of BM1 Lehn T. Outzs)
       Mrs. Gloria Land - Treasurer
       Mrs. Ruth Wingfield - By Laws Committee and Parlimentarian
       Mrs. Betty Myers - By Laws Committee and Chaplain
       Mrs. Donna Doolittle - By Laws Committee
09 - 12 Nov
Marseilles, France
12 - 18 Nov
Villefranche, France
22 Nov

President John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, TX.
?? Nov
Talos launch to port
26 Nov - 03 Dec
Villefranche, France
03-07 Dec
La Spezia, Italy
09 Dec
Talos launch to port
11-14 Dec
At Palma, Majorca, Spain.
14 Dec
Underway for Rota, Spain
15 Dec

At Rota, Spain. USS Springfield CLG-7 relieves LITTLE ROCK as Flagship of Sixth Fleet.
Depart Rota for full speed crossing of Atlantic to be home for Christmas.
24 Dec
Arrived Norfolk, VA (Christmas Eve!) for the Holidays.


1964

03 Feb

Depart Norfolk for training exercises off Virginia coast.
07 Feb
Arrive Norfolk, VA for weekend.
10 Feb Depart Norfolk for training exercises off Virginia coast.
14 Feb Arrive Norfolk, VA
03 Mar Depart Norfolk for Caribbean for Operation SPRING-BOARD 64 and missile firings.
??? Mar

Visited St. Thomas, VI and Roosevelt Roads, PR
28 Mar Arrive Norfolk, VA
08 - 15 Apr Participated in "Operation QUICK-KICK V" off VA coast.
27 - 29 Apr At sea off southern Virginia coast
04 - 05 May At sea practicing  drills for annual inspections and drills competition
02 Jun Depart Norfolk for Annapolis, MD to embark 275 Midshipmen
03 Jun
At Annapolis, MD to embark Midshipmen. In company with USS LAKE CHAPLAIN (CVS-39), USS NANTAHALA (AO-60) and destroyers of Squadron 16 and Division 122.
04 Jun
Depart Annapolis for North Atlantic training cruise LANTMIDTRARON '64  (See Notes 3 & 4.)
Jun 17 (?)

Arrive Cherbourg, France (1st port of call)
Jun ??
Amsterdam, Holland
Jun ??
Kiel, Germany. Kiel Week Regatta (dates 21-28 June) and a track meet with German Midshipmen.
Jun ??
Copenhagen, Denmark
Jun ??
Antwerp, Belgium
Jun ??
Sandefjord, Norway / Oslo, Norway
Jun ??
Stockholm, Sweden
Jul 03 - Jul 13
Portsmouth, England (for 4th of July)
Jul 14 - 23

Underway enroute Norfolk, VA
24 Jul
Arrive Norfolk, VA
24 Aug
Depart Norfolk VA for Roosevelt Roads, PR for missile firings.
29 - 30 Aug
St. Thomas, VI
05 Sep
Arrive Norfolk, VA
12 Sep
Capt. Roderick O. Middleton relieves Capt. C. Edwin Bell Jr.
05 Oct
Depart Norfolk for training exercises off Virginia coast
23 Oct
Arrive Naval Operations Base, Norfolk, VA.
24 Oct - 27 Nov
At Norfolk. Preparations being made for Mediterranean deployment.
26 Nov
Thanksgiving Day in Norfolk
28 Nov
Depart Norfolk VA for Caribbean Sea for missile firings
Nov-Dec ???
St. Thomas, VI
05 Dec
Depart for Mediterranean
12 Dec
INCHOP to Sixth Fleet
14 Dec
Arrive Gibraltar to relieve USS SPRINGFIELD CLG-7. Depart same day for Naples, Italy.
20 Dec
Arrive Naples for Christmas holidays.
21 - 27 Dec

Naples, Italy
27 Dec
Depart for La Spezia, Italy. At sea replenishment.
30 Dec
Arrive La Spezia, Italy for New Year's.

1965

05 - 11 Jan

USS LITTLE ROCK is engaged in MEDLANDEX 1-65 (Mediterranean Landing Exercise), a large scale operation which included USS SARATOGA CVA-62, USS SEMMES DDG-18, USS TATNALL DDG-19, and USS CHARLES ADAMS DDG-2 along with an amphibious task unit consisting of LST’s, LSD’s and LPH’s.
11- 15 Jan

Toulon, France
22 Jan - 02 Feb

Cannes, France
12 -24 Feb

Barcelona, Spain
25 Feb
Arrive Gaeta, Italy
05 - 11 Mar

Palermo. Sicily
11 - 14 Mar

Messina, Italy
17 Mar

USS LITTLE ROCK anchored in Augusta Bay, Sicily with USS SARATOGA and other U.S. Navy ships including one Essex class attack aircraft carrier, another CLG, two DLG's, six DD's, two AO's and several other auxiliaries. (Photo)
24 - 30 Mar

Valletta, Malta
01 - 05 Apr

Taranto, Italy
15 - 20 Apr Istanbul, Turkey
22 - 29 Apr
Izmir, Turkey
07 - 17 May

Naples, Italy
29 May - 01 Jun

Malaga, Spain
?? Jun
Relieved as Flagship Sixth Fleet by USS ALBANY CG-10.
02 Jun
Gibraltar (Outchop)
02 - 10 Jun

Enroute Norfolk, VA
19 Jun LITTLE ROCK relieves USS NEWPORT NEWS CA-148 and assumes duty as flagship of COMSECONDFLT (VADM Kleber S. Masterson) and NATO Strikeforce Atlantic.
??? Jul

At New York City for the World's Fair, tied up in Brooklyn, NY.
24 Aug Depart for 6 weeks in North Atlantic.
11 - 15 Sep
Stockholm, Sweden
18 - 22 Sep
Southampton (Portsmouth), England
24 - 27 Sep
Amsterdam, Netherlands
27 Sep

Capt. Oscar F. Dreyer relieves Capt. Roderick O. Middleton
Little Rock underway for Norfolk
29 Sep USS LITTLE ROCK crosses the Arctic Circle at Longitude 02° 50' W.  All crew members on board at this time are entitled to the "Realm of the Arctic Circle" Certificate. (Sometimes referred to as the "Bluenose" certificate.)
?? Sep - ?? Oct
USS LITTLE ROCK crew witnesses the break-up of a tanker in heavy seas. (Need confirmation.)
Fall ?? Caribbean?  Roosevelt Roads?
16 Nov


0001 At anchor Lynnhaven Roads
0820 Underway for Engineering and Damage Control exercises.


Notes:

1.
Date shown for ports generally indicate arrival date.
2.
Port stays are typically 3-5 days.
3.
LANTMIDTRARON '64 deployed 15 ships, with a total of over 8000 men. The ships involved were the cruiser LITTLE ROCK (Flagship), aircraft carrier ESSEX, tanker NANTAHALA, and destroyers CONY, FORREST ROYAL, STICKELL, C.R. WARE. ZELLERS, HARWOOD, NEW, DAMATO, BIGELOW, McCAFFERY, W.C. LOWE, and A.M. SUMNER. (Go back to 1964)
4.
Ships participating in LANTMIDTRARON '64 were under CRUDESFLOT10, RADM Harry Hull. (Back to 1964)

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