USS Little (DD-79/APD-4) was a Wickes-class destroyer serving in the United States Navy during both World War I and World War II. Laid down on June 18, 1917, by the Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts, she was launched on November 11, 1917, and commissioned on April 6, 1918, under Commander Joseph K. Taussig. As a Wickes-class vessel, Little featured the typical design of early 20th-century destroyers, optimized for speed and escort duties. During World War I, Little primarily operated in European waters, escorting convoys from Norfolk, Virginia, to Brest, France, from May to December 1918. Notably, she escorted President Woodrow Wilson's party to the Paris Peace Conference and returned him from Europe in July 1919. After the war, she participated in tactical exercises and was placed in reserve in Philadelphia in November 1919, before decommissioning in July 1922. Reactivated and converted to a high-speed transport (designated APD-4) in 1940, Little was modified by removing two boilers to create troop quarters. She was recommissioned in November 1940 and conducted amphibious training along the West Coast and in the Caribbean. In early 1942, she became flagship for Transport Division 12 and participated in the Pacific Theater, supporting operations at Midway and the Solomon Islands. A notable event in her service occurred on August 30, 1942, during the Guadalcanal campaign. While discharging supplies and Marine Raiders, Little was engaged by Japanese destroyers after a misidentification and was hit by enemy fire. She was set ablaze and ultimately sank around 0300 on September 5, 1942, after a fierce engagement that also claimed the lives of 65 officers and men. Despite her loss, her efforts contributed significantly to the Guadalcanal campaign, earning her two battle stars for World War II service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.