Information on the DD-459



The first USS Laffey, Benson- (Bristol-) class DD 459, was built with Woodworth at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard in San Francisco and commissioned there 31 March 1942, LCdr. William E. Hank in command.
 

To: Task Force 67

We believe the enemy has undoubtedly suffered a crushing defeat. We thank Admiral Kinkaid for his intervention yesterday. We thank Lee for his sturdy effort last night. Our own aircraft has been grand in its relentless hammering of the foe. All those efforts are appreciated but our greatest homage goes to Callaghan, Scott and their men who with magnificent courage against seemingly hopeless odds drove back the first hostile attack and paved the way for the success to follow. To them the men of Cactus lift their battered helmets in deepest admiration.

ALEXANDER A. VANDEGRIFT
General, U.S Marines

Following training operations off the west coast, she was sent to the South Pacific to take part in the Guadalcanal campaign, arriving in late August.

Replacing Farenholt (flagship of Capt. Robert G. Tobin, ComDesRon 12), Aaron Ward and Buchanan in the screen of Wasp (CV 7) after the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, Laffey, with Duncan, Lansdowne and cruisers Helena and Salt Lake City, collectively rescued 1,946 survivors (see photo above) on 15 September, when Wasp was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19.

Two night gun-and-torpedo battles off Guadalcanal highlighted the remainder of Laffey’s short career. On 11–12 October, at the Battle of Cape Esperance, she was third in line following DesRon 12 destroyers Farenholt (flag) and Duncan, leading cruisers San Francisco (flagship of Rear Admiral Norman Scott, CTG 64.2), Boise, Salt Lake City and Helena and rear DDs Buchanan and McCalla in turning back a Japanese bombardment group during action in which Duncan was lost.
   A month later, in the early hours of 13 November, she participated in the opening of the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Second in line behind 1500-tonner Cushing and ahead of Sterett and O’Bannon in the van of Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callahan’s 13-ship Task Group 67.4, she engaged Japanese battleships Hiei and Kirishima before sustaining a torpedo hit in the stern from destroyer Teruzuki. Her after magazines detonated shortly thereafter and she sank with a loss of 59 officers and men killed and 116 wounded. (Aaron Ward, Capt. Tobin’s flagship on this occasion, led the four rear destroyers—DesRon 12’s Barton and Monssen, both of which were also lost in this action, and the 2100-ton Fletcher, which emerged undamaged. Laffey, Sterett and O’Bannon all earned Presidential Presidential Unit Citations, as did Rear Admiral Scott’s flagship Atlanta and Admiral Callaghan’s flagship San Francisco.) 

IN TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL
NOVEMBER 13–15, 1942

To the superb officers and men on the sea, on land, in the air, and under the seas who in the past five days have performed such magnificent feats for our country. You have won the undying gratitude of your country and have written our names in golden letters on the pages of history. No honor for you could be too great, my pride in you is beyond expression. Magnificently done. May God bless each and every one of you. To the glorious dead, hail heroes—may you all rest with God.

WILLIAM F. HALSEY
Admiral, U.S. Navy


In 1992, a National Geographic expedition led by Dr. Robert Ballard discovered Laffey’s remains nearly a half-mile below the surface of Ironbottom Sound, off Guadalcanal. As reported in the video and book The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal, she is upright and largely intact from the bow to amidships, but her after third has disappeared. Both forward 5-inch guns are trained out to port, and her midships superstructure is holed by a 14-inch projectile from a Japanese battleship.
   In April 2006, cruise ship Clipper Odyssey heaved to over the position of Laffey’s remains. Mrs. Cary Webb Sears, daughter of LCdr. Hank, addressed the passengers and crew before leading a wreath ceremony.
  
In addition to her Presidential Unit Citation, Laffey earned three battle stars on her Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal for participating in the following operations:

1 Star CAPE ESPERANCE (Second Savo) — 11–12 October 1942.
1 Star CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF GUADALCANAL — 12 November 1942.
1 Star GUADALCANAL (Third Savo) — 12–15 November 1942.

Laffey’s casualties at the
Battle of Guadalcanal.

Casualties, Battle of Guadalcanal

Source: Bureau of Personnel casualty report, NARA.

 
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