# USS Kilty > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/USS_Kilty > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/USS_Kilty.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kilty > Source revision: 1327470143 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Wickes-class destroyer}} {{Use American English|date=October 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=USSKiltyDD137.jpg |image_caption=USS Kilty (DD-137) }} |section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United States |flag={{USN flag|1945}} |name= |namesake= [Augustus Kilty](/source/Augustus_Kilty) |ordered= |builder=[Mare Island Navy Yard](/source/Mare_Island_Navy_Yard) |laid_down=15 December 1917 |launched=25 April 1918 |acquired= |commissioned=17 December 1918 |decommissioned=5 June 1922 }} |section3={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header=yes |recommissioned=18 December 1939 |decommissioned=2 November 1945 |reclassified=*'''APD-15''', 2 January 1943 *'''DD-137''', 20 July 1945 |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck=16 November 1945 |reinstated= |honours= |fate=Sold for scrapping, 26 August 1946 |notes= }} |section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class={{sclass|Wickes|destroyer}} |displacement=1,090 tons |length=314 ft 5 in (95.83 m) |beam=31 ft 9 in (9.68 m) |draft=8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |propulsion= |speed=35 knots (65 km/h) |range= |complement=113 officers and enlisted |sensors= |EW= |armament=4 x [{{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}/50](/source/4%22%2F50_caliber_gun) guns, 1 x [1-pounder](/source/QF_1-pounder_pom-pom). (0.454 kg) |armor= |aircraft= |aircraft_facilities= |notes= }} }} '''USS ''Kilty'' (DD–137)''' was a [''Wickes''-class](/source/Wickes-class_destroyer) [destroyer](/source/destroyer) in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy). She was the first ship named for [Admiral](/source/Admiral) [Augustus Kilty](/source/Augustus_Kilty). ''Kilty'' was launched 25 April 1918 by the [Mare Island Navy Yard](/source/Mare_Island_Navy_Yard), [Vallejo, California](/source/Vallejo%2C_California); sponsored by Miss Elizabeth Harrison Shapley; and commissioned 17 December 1918. ==Service history== After a [Caribbean](/source/Caribbean) shakedown and a [Europe](/source/Europe)an cruise during the summer of 1919, ''Kilty'' returned to [San Diego](/source/San_Diego%2C_California) and operated there until she decommissioned 5 June 1922. ===World War II=== ''Kilty'' recommissioned 18 December 1939, and in April 1940 sailed on [Neutrality Patrol](/source/Neutrality_Patrol) out of San Diego. During the summer, she conducted reserve training cruises and resumed her patrols early in September. The destroyer continued these operations until the United States entered World War II. Then, ''Kilty'' intensified ASW patrols, trained armed-guard crews for merchantmen, and escorted coastal convoys throughout 1942. Reclassified '''APD-15''' on 2 January 1943, ''Kilty'' cleared Mare Island 2 March for the [South Pacific](/source/South_Pacific_Area). After arriving [Noumea](/source/Noumea) 8 April with a [Marine Raiders](/source/Marine_Raiders) battalion, the transport steamed toward [Guadalcanal](/source/Guadalcanal) as an ASW screen 28 April. She made similar cruises until June when she reported for patrol and escort duty in the [Solomons](/source/Solomon_Islands). ''Kilty'' played a vital role in the conquest of the Solomons, landing troops of the [37th Division](/source/37th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)) on [New Georgia Island](/source/New_Georgia_Island) 30 June and 4 July. Continuing operations in the area, she made three reinforcement runs up the "Slot" during July and landed troops on [Vella Lavella Island](/source/Vella_Lavella_Island) 15 August. As Allied operations built up momentum, ''Kilty'' moved on to the [Treasury Islands](/source/Treasury_Islands) Campaign. She successfully landed [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) troops on [Stirling Island](/source/Stirling_Island) 27 October and a [Marine](/source/United_States_Marine_Corps) force on [Bougainville](/source/Bougainville_Island) 9 days later, enabling Allied Forces to bypass [Rabaul](/source/Rabaul). ''Kilty'' effectively aided this campaign in three more landings before sailing for [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane) 21 November. Returning [Milne Bay](/source/Milne_Bay) in mid-December, the transport began preparing for the assault on the [Bismarck Archipelago](/source/Bismarck_Archipelago). ''Kilty'' landed units of the 7th Marine Regiment for the initial attack on [Cape Gloucester](/source/Cape_Gloucester_(Papua_New_Guinea)), [New Britain](/source/New_Britain) 26 December. Following two more landings there, she sent troops ashore at [Saidor](/source/Saidor) 2 January 1944 to take an air strip which would help the Air Force patrol and support Cape Gloucester. ''Kilty''{{'}}s next objective was [Green Island](/source/Green_Island%2C_Papua_New_Guinea), where she landed troops on 15 and 20 February before returning to [Port Purvis](/source/Purvis_Bay) on [Florida Island](/source/Nggela_Islands) in the [Solomons](/source/Solomon_Islands). Following an unopposed [assault on Emirau Island](/source/Landing_on_Emirau) 20 March, the transport prepared for the [Hollandia](/source/Jayapura) campaign. Completing landings at [Aitape](/source/Aitape) 22 April, ''Kilty'' then participated in [New Guinea](/source/New_Guinea) landings, including [Wakde](/source/Wakde) 17 May and [Biak](/source/Biak) 10 days later before putting into [Humboldt Bay](/source/Teluk_Yos_Sudarso) 28 May. After a minor overhaul at [Milne Bay](/source/Milne_Bay), she landed troops on [Cape Sansopor](/source/Cape_Sansopor) 30 July before sailing to [Sydney](/source/Sydney). Returning to [Humboldt Bay](/source/Teluk_Yos_Sudarso) 30 August, ''Kilty'' landed troops on [Morotai](/source/Morotai) 15 September to complete her operations in New Guinea area. ''Kilty'' departed Hollandia 12 October as part of the spearhead for the giant [Leyte](/source/Leyte_(island)) assault that bore down on the enemy like a typhoon. In the advance assault force she landed rangers on [Dinagat](/source/Dinagat_Island) in the entrance to Leyte Gulf 17 October to pave the way for the main [Philippine](/source/Philippines) invasion. While ''Kilty'' was returning to Hollandia 23 October, the U.S. Fleet was crushing the Japanese Navy in the famous [battle for Leyte Gulf](/source/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf). During another cruise to Leyte in mid-November, the transport splashed two [Aichi D3A](/source/Aichi_D3A) "Vals" before they could crash into American LSTs. Continuing operations in the strategic Philippines, ''Kilty'' landed troops 15 December in the invasion of [Mindoro](/source/Mindoro), and on 11 January 1945 supported the [Luzon](/source/Luzon) landings. She made additional landings at [Nasugbu](/source/Nasugbu) 31 January and at [Corregidor](/source/Corregidor) in mid-February before sailing for [Ulithi](/source/Ulithi) 25 February for overhaul. Battle-proven ''Kilty'' cleared Ulithi 2 April as escort to four escort carriers ferrying planes to the Okinawa beachhead. During May she made another escort cruise from [Saipan](/source/Saipan) to [Okinawa](/source/Okinawa_Island), and on the 4th rescued survivors from {{USS|Luce|DD-522|2}} sunk during a ''[kamikaze](/source/kamikaze)'' attack. With the Okinawa campaign well under way, ''Kilty'' departed [Guam](/source/Guam) 17 May and arrived San Diego 18 June for overhaul. Redesignated '''DD-137''' on 20 July 1945, ''Kilty'' was still in the yard as the war came to an end. The veteran destroyer decommissioned 2 November 1945, and was sold 26 August 1946 to the [National Metal & Steel Corporation](/source/National_Metal_%26_Steel_Corporation) for scrapping. ==Awards== ''Kilty'' received ten battle stars for World War II service. As of 2009, no other ship in the United States Navy has borne this name. ==References== * {{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/k/kilty.html}} ==External links== * {{navsource|05/137}} {{Wickes-class destroyer}} {{Flush-decker high speed transport}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kilty (Dd-137)}} Category:Wickes-class destroyers Category:World War II destroyers of the United States Category:World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United States Category:Ships built in Vallejo, California Category:1918 ships --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [USS Kilty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kilty) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kilty?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.