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Photo # NH 63478:  USS Little running trials, 4 March 1918

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Little (Destroyer # 79, later DD-79 and APD-4), 1918-1942

USS Little, a 1060-ton Wickes class destroyer built at Quincy, Massachusetts, was commissioned in April 1918. A month later, she crossed the Atlantic to take up wartime convoy operations out of Brest, France. She continued with this mission until after the Armistice, returning to the United States at the end of 1918. Little served along the east coast until November 1919 and, after a year in reserve, resumed active duty in the same area until July 1922, when she was decommissioned, the beginning of eighteen years in "red-lead row" at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

In 1940, Little was converted to a high-speed transport, with the new hull number APD-4. She recommissioned in November 1940 and spent more than a year in amphibious exercises in the Caribbean, off the California coast and along the eastern seaboard. She was transferred to the Pacific Fleet in early 1942 and was sent to the south Pacific in July of that year.

On 7-9 August 1942, Little took part in the first major Allied offensive of the Pacific War, the operation to seize Japanese facilities on Guadalcanal and Tulagi islands. She remained in the Southern Solomons area for the next month, providing valuable transport services to the Marines fighting on Guadalcanal. She was patrolling off Guadalcanal's Lunga Point with USS Gregory (APD-3) on the night of 4-5 September 1942 when the two old ships were attacked by a force of three Japanese destroyers. Overwhelmed by greatly superior enemy gun power, USS Little was quickly put out of action and sank soon afterwards.

In July 1992 a expedition searching the sea floor of Iron Bottom Sound, the historic body of water between Guadalcanal and Tulagi, found and examined a sunken U.S. Navy high-speed transport some miles off Lunga Point. While the identity of this ship could not be conclusively determined, she is either Little or the virtually identical Gregory.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have concerning USS Little (Destroyer # 79, later DD-79 and APD-4).

For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Little (Destroyer # 79, later DD-79 and APD-4) -- On Board and Close Up Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 63478

    USS Little (DD-79)


    Running trials in icy waters, 4 March 1918.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50022

    USS Little (DD-79)


    At Boston, Massachusetts, 18 January 1919.
    Panoramic photograph, taken by Crosby.
    Note mattress splinter shielding hung around her bridge.

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. Crosby Collection.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 45KB; 740 x 285 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 70858

    USS Little (DD-79)


    Photographed circa 1919-20.

    Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97784

    USS Little (APD-4)


    Tied up to a mooring bouy, circa early 1942.
    Note her pattern camouflage.

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

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97785

    USS Little (APD-4)


    In port, circa early 1942.
    Note her pattern camouflage, depth charge racks on her stern and gravity davits amidships.

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

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97836

    Rehersals for the Guadalcanal-Tulagi Invasion


    Two high-speed transports (APD) underway during practice landings in the Fiji Islands, 30 July 1942, shortly before the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi.
    These ships are USS Gregory (APD-3), at left, and USS Little (APD-4), in the right center.
    Note the light cruiser beyond them, possibly USS San Juan (CL-54).

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

    Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 51343

    World War I Atlantic Convoy


    Photographed from on board USS Little (DD-79) as it approached the harbor of Brest, France, on 26 October 1918.
    A French blimp is patrolling overhead. The transport Mercury (ID # 3012), in "dazzle" camouflage, is at right and another U.S. Navy destroyer is in the left distance.

    The original print bears U.S. Army Signal Corps markings.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 41715

    Convoy approaching the harbor at Brest, France
    ,
    26 October 1918

    Photographed from the crow's nest of USS Little (Destroyer # 79).
    A transport and a U.S. Navy destroyer are visible, with a French blimp overhead.

    U.S. Army Signal Corps Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43022

    Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts


    Ships fitting out at the Fore River shipyard, 19 March 1918. The six destroyers are Little (DD-79), Kimberly (DD-80), Sigourney (DD-81), Gregory (DD-82), Colhoun (DD-85) and Stevens (DD-86), which had builder's hull numbers 274-277 and 280-281 respectively.
    The freighter at right is Katrina Luckenbach, yard hull # 267, which served as USS Katrina Luckenbach in 1918-19. Most of the equipment on the pier is for her.
    Note the large submarine being built in the background, under the revolving crane.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 146KB; 740 x 585 pixels

     

    Additional images -- The following photographs were taken from USS Little, but do not show any of her structure:

  • Photo # NH 46619, shows USS Mercury (ID # 3012) at sea in 1918;
  • Photo # NH 93896, showing USS Zeelandia (ID # 2507) and USS Madawaska (ID # 3011) at sea in 1918;
  • Photo # NH 93897, showing USS Zeelandia (ID # 2507) and USS Mercury (ID # 3012) at sea in 1918.


    For other images related to this ship, see:

  • USS Little (Destroyer # 79, later DD-79 and APD-4) -- On Board and Close Up Views.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 28 November 2001
    New images added 30 January 2006