USS Laffey (DD-459)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
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| Name: | USS Laffey (DD-459) |
| Namesake: | Bartlett Laffey |
| Builder: | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California |
| Laid down: | 13 January 1941 |
| Launched: | 30 October 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 31 March 1942 |
| Fate: | sunk Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Benson-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 1,620 long tons (1,650 t) |
| Length: | 347 ft 10 in (106.02 m) |
| Beam: | 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m) |
| Draft: | 11 ft 10 in (3.61 m) |
| Speed: | 37.5 kn (69.5 km/h; 43.2 mph) |
| Complement: | 208 |
| Armament: |
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USS Laffey (DD-459) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the first destroyer named for Bartlett Laffey.
Laffey was laid down on 13 January 1941 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, San Francisco, California; launched 30 October 1941; sponsored by Miss Eleanor G. Forgerty, granddaughter of Seaman Laffey; and commissioned on 31 March 1942, Lieutenant Commander William E. Hank in command. She was lost in action on 13 November 1942.
After shakedown off the west coast, Laffey headed for the war zone via Pearl Harbor, arriving at Efate on 28 August 1942. She steamed in the antisubmarine screen until she joined Task Force 18 on 6 September. When the flagship— the carrier Wasp—was sunk on 15 September, Laffey rescued survivors and returned them to Espiritu Santo. She sailed with Task Force 64 and touched at Noumea, New Caledonia on 18 September.
Laffey saw her first fleet action in the Battle of Cape Esperance (also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island) on 11 and 12 October 1942. The destroyer operated with Admiral Norman Scott's cruiser group, guarding against enemy attempts to reinforce Guadalcanal. On 11 October, when the group formed into single column, Laffey joined two other destroyers in the van. About an hour later, sailors ran to their battle stations, steel doors clanged shut, and all made ready for battle. When the engagement began, Laffey raked the cruiser Aoba with three of her 5-inch guns. The furious gunfire roared on through the night. At dawn, destroyer Duncan was sinking, Farenholt was badly damaged, and cruiser Boise, though hard hit, had weathered several powerful blows. On the other hand, the Japanese losses were even greater. Furutaka was sinking, Aoba was badly damaged, and Fubuki had sunk.
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