An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USS Little Rock
History

CL 92 (1945-1949)


 
U.S.S. Little Rock (CL 92) was laid down by Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia, PA on 06 March 1943; launched on August 27, 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Sam Wassell; and commissioned 17 June 1945 with Capt. William E. Miller in command. Five additional Commanding Officers would command the Little Rock during her service as CL 92.
 
October 21, 1945 Little Rock departed Newport, RI for a five-month cruise to many Latin American countries before returning to Norfolk, VA in March 1946. She would operate around the Caribbean, the east coast, and Europe through the end of the year before coming home to be reclassified and retrofitted as a guided missile cruiser.

CLG 4 (1960-1976)


 
On January 13, 1957, the U.S.S. Little Rock arrived at the New York Shipbuilding Corp. in Camden, NJ for conversion to a guided missile cruiser. Her hull designation was changed from CL-92 to CLG-4 on May 23, 1957.
 
Following conversion, the Little Rock arrived at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on May 6, 1960 and was commissioned on June 3, 1960. She would distinguish herself as a peacetime naval vessel operating with the U.S, Sixth Fleet in the Caribbean and various ports off the East Coast. In 1975 Little Rock became CG 4, as traditional per Navy’s change of ship designations. Little Rock was decommissioned and stricken 22 November 1976. She arrived at Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park on 15 July 1977, and is presently open for visitors.

LCS 9 (2017- present)


 
On July 15, 2011 Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the the next Freedom class littoral combat ship would be named USS Little Rock (LCS 9).  Her keel was laid on June 27, 2013 in Marinette, Wis. and authenticated by welding the name of the ship’s sponsor, Janee Bonner, into the keel. On the July 18, 2015 the pre-commissioning unit Little Rock was christened and launched at the Marinette Marine Shipyard. Months later, the Navy announced USS Little Rock was to be commissioned in Buffalo, N.Y. alongside the “old” USS Little Rock (CL 92), a first in 242 years of Naval History. 
 
The Navy proceeded to officially accept delivery of LCS 9 during a short ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corp. Shipyard. USS Little Rock was commissioned at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park on the Dec. 16.  The ex-USS Little Rocks include CL 92, CLG 4 and CG 4. In transit to her homeport, the USS Little Rock refueled in Canada before mooring in Montreal, Quebec due to river ice in the St. Lawrence. On the March 31 the USS Little Rock departed Montreal to arrive at Naval Station Mayport on April 12, 2018.
 
USS Little Rock participated in “Fleet Week New York City” May 2018.

 
Navy.mil  |  Navy.com  |  Navy FOIA  |  DoD Accessibility/Section 508  |  No Fear Act   |  Open Government  |  Plain Writing Act  USA.gov  |  Veterans Crisis Line  |  VA Vet Center  |  FVAP  |  DoD Safe Helpline  |  Navy SAPR  |  NCIS Tips  |  Privacy Policy  |  Site Map  |  Contact Us   |  988 Helpline
 
Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic  |  1751 Morris Street  |  Norfolk, Virginia 23511-2808
Official U.S. Navy Website
Veteran's Crisis Line