After a
Caribbean shakedown and a
European cruise during the summer of 1919,
Kilty returned to
San Diego 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 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. After arriving
Noumea 8 April with a
Marine Raiders battalion, the transport steamed toward
Guadalcanal as an ASW screen 28 April. She made similar cruises until June when she reported for patrol and escort duty in the
Solomons.
Kilty played a vital role in the conquest of the Solomons, landing troops of the
37th Division on
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 15 August. As Allied operations built up momentum,
Kilty moved on to the
Treasury Islands Campaign. She successfully landed
New Zealand troops on
Stirling Island 27 October and a
Marine force on
Bougainville 9 days later, enabling Allied Forces to bypass
Rabaul.
Kilty effectively aided this campaign in three more landings before sailing for
Brisbane 21 November. Returning
Milne Bay in mid-December, the transport began preparing for the assault on the
Bismarck Archipelago.
Kilty landed units of the 7th Marine Regiment for the initial attack on
Cape Gloucester,
New Britain 26 December. Following two more landings there, she sent troops ashore at
Saidor 2 January 1944 to take an air strip which would help the Air Force patrol and support Cape Gloucester.
Kiltys next objective was
Green Island, where she landed troops on 15 and 20 February before returning to
Port Purvis on
Florida Island in the
Solomons. Following an unopposed
assault on Emirau Island 20 March, the transport prepared for the
Hollandia campaign. Completing landings at
Aitape 22 April,
Kilty then participated in
New Guinea landings, including
Wakde 17 May and
Biak 10 days later before putting into
Humboldt Bay 28 May. After a minor overhaul at
Milne Bay, she landed troops on
Cape Sansopor 30 July before sailing to
Sydney. Returning to
Humboldt Bay 30 August,
Kilty landed troops on
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 assault that bore down on the enemy like a typhoon. In the advance assault force she landed rangers on
Dinagat in the entrance to Leyte Gulf 17 October to pave the way for the main
Philippine 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. During another cruise to Leyte in mid-November, the transport splashed two
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, and on 11 January 1945 supported the
Luzon landings. She made additional landings at
Nasugbu 31 January and at
Corregidor in mid-February before sailing for
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 to
Okinawa, and on the 4th rescued survivors from sunk during a
kamikaze attack. With the Okinawa campaign well under way,
Kilty departed
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 for scrapping. ==Awards==