>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1969) Vol. 4, pp.125-126.





LITTLE ROCK



CL-92

Displacement:  10,000 t.

Length:  610’1”

Beam:  66’4”

Draft:  20’

Speed:  33 k.

Complement:  992

Armament:  12 6”; 12 5”; 28 40mm; 10 20mm

Class:  CLEVELAND



	LITTLE ROCK (CL-92) was laid down by Cramp Shipbuilding 

Co., Philadelphia, Pa., 6 March 1943; launched 27 August 

1944; sponsored by Mrs. Sam Wassell; and commissioned 17 

June 1945, Capt. W. E. Miller in command.



	After shakedown off Cuba and training along the 

Atlantic coast, LITTLE ROCK departed Newport, R.I., 21 

October for South America.  Following this 5-month cruise to 

Latin countries, the cruiser returned Norfolk 23 March 1946.  

For the next 2 months she performed exercises off the east 

coast and in the Caribbean, before sailing for Europe 4 

June.  After operating with the 6th Fleet throughout the 

summer, LITTLE ROCK returned Norfolk 27 September 1946.



	From September 1946 to 1949, the cruiser performed east 

coast exercises; operated in the Caribbean on training 

maneuvers, and sailed to the Mediterranean during 1947 and 

1948.  LITTLE ROCK decommissioned 24 June 1949 and joined 

the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at New York.



	Reclassified CLG-4 on 23 May 1957, LITTLE ROCK began a 

major conversion to a guided missile warship.  She 

recommissioned at Philadelphia 3 June 1960, Capt. J. O. 

Phillips in command.  The cruiser performed shakedown 

training in the Caribbean, test-firing her Talos missiles to 

prepare to join the Navy's rapidly expanding fleet of ships 

armed with guided missiles capable of delivering a nuclear 

punch.



	Departing Philadelphia 9 February 1961, LITTLE ROCK 

sailed for her first European cruise in her new role.  After 

6 months operating with the 6th Fleet and NATO units, the 

guided-missile cruiser returned to Norfolk during September.



	While operating in the Caribbean, 18 November 1961, 

LITTLE ROCK was ordered to the waters off Santo Domingo to 

provide an element of stability during the uncertainty and 

unrest which plagued that country as rival factions vied to 

fill the political vacuum created by the assassination of 

Trujillo.



	For the next 4 years, LITTLE ROCK annually sailed to 

the Mediterranean, joining the mighty 6th Fleet, serving as 

its flagship in 1962, as it maintained the peace in southern 

Europe and the Middle East.  During the months between 

deployments to the Mediterranean, she operated off the east 

coast, in the Caribbean, and off northern Europe with units 

of NATO countries.



	Remaining on the east coast during 1966 for overhaul 

and refresher training, she resumed a schedule of annual 

rotation to the Mediterranean in January 1967, and has 

continued to follow that schedule into 1969.



	[LITTLE ROCK was stricken from the Naval Register on 22 

November 1976.  Transferred to the Buffalo & Erie County 

Naval & Servicemen’s Park in Buffalo, N.Y., 1 June 1977, the 

cruiser arrived there on 15 July and was opened to the 

public as a memorial on 30 June 1979.  

Internet:  www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1504/]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com