The USS Gridley (DD-92) was a Wickes-class destroyer built for the United States Navy, launched on July 4, 1918, by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco. She was sponsored by Mrs. Francis P. Thomas, daughter of Captain Charles Vernon Gridley, after whom she was named. Commissioned on March 8, 1919, under the command of Commander Frank Jack Fletcher, the vessel was designed as a fast, versatile warship typical of her class, though specific dimensions are not provided in the source. Following her commissioning, the Gridley completed fitting out at Mare Island Navy Yard before departing San Diego on March 24, 1919. She transited the Panama Canal, then joined the Destroyer Force for maneuvers in Cuban waters. Her early service was notable for her participation in supporting the historic transatlantic flight of the NC-4 aircraft, guiding the plane through fog with smoke and flare signals. She played a role in the search for the aircraft NC-1 and served as a guard ship on the final leg of the NC-4's flight, which successfully concluded in Plymouth, England, on May 31, 1919. After arriving at Brest, France, on May 31, 1919, Gridley spent two months in the Mediterranean, engaging in port visits and transporting passengers as part of goodwill missions. She returned to New York on July 31, 1919. In September 1920, she carried high-ranking Marine Corps officers on an inspection tour of Caribbean bases, including locations in Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Throughout the early 1920s, the USS Gridley was primarily involved in training Navy Reserve personnel, operating along the Atlantic coast from Charleston to Newport, New York, and Philadelphia. She was decommissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard on June 22, 1922, and remained inactive until her name was struck from the Navy List on January 25, 1937. The vessel was sold for scrapping on April 19, 1939. Her service highlights her role in early 20th-century naval operations, including support for pioneering transatlantic aviation and maritime goodwill missions.

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