The USS Noa (DD-343), later redesignated APD-24, was a Clemson-class destroyer built for the United States Navy following World War I. Constructed by the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, she was authorized in October 1917, laid down in November 1918, and launched in June 1919. Commissioned in February 1921, she measured approximately 314 feet in length, with a beam of about 30 feet, and displaced around 1,290 tons standard. Her initial armament included four 4-inch guns and torpedo tubes, typical of Clemson-class destroyers. After shakedown operations from Virginia, Noa operated out of Charleston, South Carolina, participating in Atlantic Coast training maneuvers through May 1922. She then was assigned to the Asiatic Station, traveling via the Mediterranean, Aden, and Ceylon to reach Singapore in August 1922. Her duties included patrolling Chinese and Philippine waters amid the Chinese Civil War, notably in 1927 when she was stationed in Nanjing to protect American interests. She participated in a notable rescue effort alongside British and other U.S. ships, providing fire support to drive back hostile forces. Returning to the U.S. in 1929, Noa underwent overhaul at Mare Island and was based out of San Diego, engaging in fleet exercises and carrier group tactics development. She served as a training ship for Naval Reserve officers and was decommissioned in 1934, entering reserve status. Reactivated in April 1940, Noa was fitted with a seaplane and a hoist for experimental aircraft operations, demonstrating the potential of destroyer-based scout planes, an early concept later abandoned due to mechanical issues. During World War II, she was recommissioned and converted into a high-speed transport (APD-24) in 1943. She then participated in various Pacific campaigns, including landings at Cape Gloucester, Hollandia, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, serving as a landing craft control ship and escort vessel. Her service ended tragically in September 1944 when she was rammed and sunk by the USS Fullam during operations near Palau. Despite her sinking, Noa's extensive service history highlights her versatility and active role in key naval operations during the interwar period and World War II, marking her as a notable vessel in U.S. naval maritime history.

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