DD-459 U.S.S.
LAFFEY
DD459/A16-3 U.S.S. LAFFEY (DD459)
November 16, 1942.
S E C R E T
From: Commanding Officer (Acting).
To: The Secretary of the Navy.
Via: Commanding Officer, Naval Activities, CACTUS-RINGBOLT Area.
Subject: U.S.S. LAFFEY, report of 1oss of.
Reference: (a) Article 841, U.S. Navy Regulations.
1. The U.S.S. LAFFEY was lost in action while engaging units of
the enemy fleet off Savo Island about 0200 November 13, 1942.
2. The LAFFEY was lost after sustaining following damage Number
two, three and four 5" guns out of commission by direct hits;
shell hit in chart house; large caliber shell hit in electrical
work shop which penetrated the forward engine room; five inch
shell hit in after fireroom; stern end blown off by torpedo
hit.
3. About five minutes after the order to abandon ship was given,
the ship blew up with a terrific explosion and sank
immediately.
E. A. BARHAM
Lieutenant, U.S. Navy.
Copy to:
C.N.O.
CincPac.
ComsoPac.
ComdesPac.
FIRST ENDORSEMENT ADVANCED NAVAL BASE
A16-3 Cactus - Ringbolt
Serial SD/TS133
17 November 1942
From: Commander Naval Activities, Cactus-Ringbolt Area.
To : The Secretary of the Navy.
Via : Commander South Pacific Force
1. Forwarded.
SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE
OF THE UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS OF THE
COMMANDER
A16-3(11)
Serial 00161b
S-E-C-R-E-T
SECOND ENDORSEMENT TO:
C.O. (Acting) U.S.S. LAFFEY
DD459/A16-3 dated November 16,
1942.
From: The Commander South Pacific Area and South
Pacific Force.
To : The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Subject: U.S.S. LAFFEY, report of loss of.
1. Forwarded.
W.F. HALSEY
U.S.S. LAFFEY
DD459/A16-3 November 15, 1942
SECRET
From: Commanding Officer (Acting).
To: Commander Service Force, South Pacific.
Via: (1) Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Activities,
Cactus-Ringbolt Area.
Subject: U.S.S. LAFEFY, Report of Personnel casualties.
Reference: (a) Alnav 13, 1942.
1. The following is a list of personnel casualties sustained by
the U.S.S. LAFFEY in the battle off Savo Island which occurred
about 0200 November 13, 1942, in which the U.S.S. LAFFEY was
lost.
KILLED IN
ACTION
Lieute(jg) Joseph W. Finch Jr. USNR
BRANHAM, Jack S1c
BROWN, Donald N. FC1c
DARUGNA, Louis F1c
KNUDSEN, M. L. S1c
McMILLAN, C. J. BM2c
PERINO, Mike Cox
PUCKETT, F. F2c
RUNDALL W. C. F2c
SIMS, R. W. F2c
SHERMAN, E. R. S1c
SWAIN, C. C. WT2c
THORNBER, J. H. RM3c
TREVINO, Amado, Jr. S1c
WILKINSON, R. S2c
WILSON, V. L. R. S1c
QUINTERS, P. TM3c
Died OF WOUNDS
RECEIVED IN ACTION
CHASE, Guy LaVerne S2c
SANDERSON, Frederick D. TM1c
GRAHAM, E. V. S2c
Wounded in
Action
# W. T. Doyle, Jr. Lieutenant USN
# W. K. Ratliff Lieutenant USN
Eldo W. Bergman Lieutenant USN
# Thomas A. Evins Lieutenant (jg.) USN
George A. Rice Lieutenant (jg.) USN
# D. S. Sterrett Ensign USN
# J. E. Haines Ensign USNR
# P.H. MC Gann Ensign USNR
Francis A. Paul Boatswain USN
Lester E. Murphy Machinist USN
# ALMEIDA, Frank CRT # ATKINSON, R.P. F3c
BAILEY, R.O. FC2c BARKER, R.E. CM2c
BECICNA, J.W. WT2c BROWN, F.E. SC3c
# BROWNLEE, R.W. S1c BLANCHARD, M.C. F1c
BUSH, O.D. F2C CAMBELL, T.M. SC3c
# CARRIGAN, K.L. F2c CARTER, D.L. EM1c
CASEY, A.W. S1c CHADA, T. F1c
CHARPAN, R.C. S1c COKER, R.M. CGM(AA)
COLEMAN, W.M. CGM(PA) CURTIS, J.R. SoM3c
# DALEY, J.J. CBM(AA) DAVIS, W.P. S1c
# DENNIS, L.W. GM2c DUGAN, R. S2c
DUZENBERRY, R.G. QM2c EARLIN, R. Jr. GM1c
EGBERT, W.K. WT1c ELLEDGE, E.B. F2c
FAUNCE, J.W. S1c FLAIRERTY, R.J. S1c
# FONT, P.J. SC2c # FORTE, P.G. S1c
# FORNAS, L.L. S1c FOSTER, E. WT2c
GILLEY, F.E. PC1c # GREYSON, C.A. Matt1c
BELL, L.D. WT2c HALE, R. SM3c
HENDRICKSON, S.R. GM2c HOLLOMON, H.N. SM2c
HOSRKO, O. RM3c IVESTER, B. S1c
# JULIUS, R. Matt1c KASPER, J.L. CEM(PA)
# KERN, N.R. F2c KATTRICE, R.F. Rdm3c
KARAN, C. S2c # KELLOR, J.C. S2c
LA ROCQUE, J. F1c LEACH, L.N. CTM(PA)
LIEN, M.P. S1c MARTINEZ, D.M. S2c
MAXWELL, B.M. F2c MARTINEAU, J. S1c
MC CLINTOCK, F.B. Bm # MC DONALD, S. SK1c
MC FAYDEN, G. WT1c # MC QUEEN, W.C. CphM(PA)
MC WHORTER, J.N. F1c MINER, E.S. MM1c
# MITCHELL, L.F. EM1c MOORE, J.D. MM1c
# MEYERS, R. GM3c # NEWCOMBS, L. S2c
# PARTHIDGE, R.B. Rdrm3c # PARRY, G.T. GM2c
POTTER, E.J. S2c PARRISH, R.R. S2c
RIDEN, F.J. F1c RIDER, H.G. BM2c
ROBERTSON, N.W. S1c ROBINSON, D.W. SoM3c
ROGERS, R.E. Mamth1c SCHRIEBER, F.C. CMM(PA)
SKIRVIN, O.E. RadM3c STANLEY, R.R. MM2c
STEVENSON, H.F. SoM3c STRAUGHAN, R. JR. CSM(PA)
THOMAS, W.R. MM2c TOMICH, M.A. FC2c
UMBERGER, K.M. SoM3c VANLEET, W.D. Cox
VOIGHT, R.V. F1c WALLACE, R.T. EM3c
WATSON, R.Y. SoM3c WEBB, R.E. S2c
WEITZEL, S. SC1c WILLIAMS, C.E. S1c
WILLIAMS, H.E. MM1c WILLOUGHBY, O.L. S2c
WILSON, W.H. MM2c WINE, R.L. CRM(PA)
# Evacuated. Only the personnel which were evacuated sustained wounds of any
serious nature.
UNWOUNDED
SURVIVORS
Lieut. E.A. Barham, USN
Lieut. (jg) A.E. Damon, Jr. USNR
Lieut. (jg) Lars Wanggaard, Jr. USN
Ensign James Williams, Jr. USNR
Machinist George Heffler
Ship’s Clerk J.A. Kelly
AFRICANO, F.J. F3c AMBLER, L. F1c
ALFORD, P.E. F2c ALMOND, H.D. S1c
AGRELIUS, W.D. FC3c BENNETT, E.J. SF3c
BINGHAM, A.W. S1c BIRD, T.I. Bmkr2c
BROMAN, R.L. S2c BROWN, B.T. Matt2c
BURK, D.M. S2c CARR, J.T. S1c
DEVITT, R.R. S1c DIEDRICKSEN, C.D. S1c
EPPERSON, J.R. S2c FARRIS, H.S. S2c
FRANCISCO, P. Os2c GREENE, F.W. RM3c
HAGLER, L.D. S2c HEMINEZ, L. S2c
HEMPING, M.W. S1c JAMES, H.L. RM3c
JENKINS, J.H. S1c JONES, H. FC3c
JONES, R.E. GM3c KERR, A.W. EM2c
KING, J.A. S1c KIRKLAND, V.L. F2c
KOONTZ, I.L. S1c LAMBERT, W.G. S2c
LARSON, J.N. MM1c LAWHEAD, L.E. S2c
LEE, W.G. Ccstd(PA) LONER, R.W. S2c
LONG, R.W. S2c LONG, W.D. S2c
LORTON, S2c LUNON, V.C. S2c
LYON, H.J. GM1c MC CORKLE, J.B. WT1c
MC CULLAH, C.E. S2c MC DONALD, C.H. F2c
MC LEOD, J.N. Y2c MC NAMARA, K.P. S2c
MERCER, R.E. S2c MEYSKENS, R. F1c
MIAZGA, K.F. F2c MILNE, G.E. F1c
MOORE, J.C. CFC(PA) MOORE, L.E. S2c
MUESING, V.W. MM1c MULHERIN, M.P. F1c
NEEL, W. S2c NEMEC, R. F1c
PARMELEY, R.A. MM1c PATTERSON, J.F. CMM(PA)
PHILLIPS, H.A. EM2c REDMOND, L.V. MM2c
RIBBINS, H.J. F1c ROGOL, N.D. MM1c
SADLER, L.C. S2c SEEGER, B.J. Bmkr2c
SOWDER, F.M. SoM3c SUDDETH, H.W. F3c
SWENSON, H.S. SM1c SCHALLER, R.G. F1c
SIMS, A.B. F2c THOMAS, T. S1c
TROYER, M.L. MM1c VOLLMAN, R.L. S2c
WEBBER, C. S1c WOLFER, O. SC3c
WOODARD, H.E. MM2c WRIDE, J.W. Bmkr2c
YESINKEVICH, R.G. S1c
BONCOSKEY, R.F. S1c, (Picked up from USS SAN FRANCISCO)
MISSING IN
ACTION
Officers
Lieut-Comdr. William E. Hank, U.S.N. (Comdg.Officer)
Lieut.(jg) Aaron S. Michelson, MC-V,USNR.
Enlisted
No copy of the LAFFEY Muster Roll for the quarter ending September
30, 1942, is available. The original of this Muster Roll was submitted to
the Bureau of Naval Personnel on or about October 3, 1942 from this area,
with copy to Commander Service Force, Pacific Fleet, and was kept up to date
by Reports of Changes. The LAFFEY has neither transferred nor received any
enlisted personnel since the Muster Roll of September 30, 1942 was submitted.
It is not possible to list accurately the enlisted personnel missing
in action, but all men shown on the Muster Roll of this vessel for September
30, 1942 whose name are not shown in this Report of Casualties are
unaccounted for and are considered by the Acting Commanding Officer to be in
the category "Missing in Action".
E.A. Barham,
Lieutenant, U.S.N.
Copy to: BuPers (2)
CincPac(1)
Comdg.Gen. Cactus-Ringbolt Area(1)
Comdg.Off. Naval Activities, Cactus-Ringbolt Area(1)
FIRST ENDORSEMENT to: ADVANCED NAVAL BASE
C.O. USS LAFFEY rpt. of Cactus-Ringbolt
Personnel losses, A16-3,
Dated 15 November 1942. 17 November 1942
A16-3
Serial 131 S E C R E T
From: Commander Naval Activities,
Cactus-Ringbolt Area.
To : Commander Service Force,
South Pacific.
1. Forwarded.
W.G. GREENMAN
Information U.S.S. LAFFEY
DICTIONARY OF FIGHTING SHIPS
History of the U.S.S. LAFFEY DD-459
LAFFEY (DD-459)
LAFFEY (DD-459) was laid down 13 January 1941 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co.,
San Francisco Calif.; launched 30 October 1941; sponsored by Miss Eleanor G.
Forgerty, granddaughter of Seaman Laffey; and commissioned 31 March 1942, Lt.
Comdr. William E. Hank in command.
After shakedown off the wet coast, LAFFEY headed for the war zone via Pearl
Harbor, arriving Efate 28 August 1942. She steamed in antisubmarine screen
until she joined Task Force 18 on 6 September. When Wasp (CV-7), her
flagship, was sunk 15 September, LAFFEY rescued survivors and returned them
to Espiritu Santo. She sailed with Task Force 64 and touched at Noumea, New
Caledonia, 18 September.
LAFFEY saw her first fleet action in the Battle off Cape Esperance (also
known as the Second Battle of Savo Island) 11 and 12 October 1942. The
destroyer operated with Admiral 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 AOBA with
three of her 5-inch guns. The furious gunfire roared on through the night. At
dawn, destroyer DUNCAN was sinking, destroyer 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. Cruiser FURUTAKA was
sinking, cruiser AOBA was badly damaged, and destroyer FUBAKI had sunk.
After the battle, LAFFEY rendezvoused with a group escorting transports from
Noumea 11 November, and sailed to Lunga Point, arriving the next day. The
disembarking operations were interrupted by a heavy air attack. On Friday 13
November LAFFEY was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and
five cruisers under Admiral Callaghan. Early in the mid-watch the radar
operator reported contact with the enemy. The naval battle of Guadalcanal was
just about to begin when the enemy force, a group of two battleships, one
cruiser and 14 destroyers appeared on the horizon. LAFFEY lashed out at the
enemy with gunfire and torpedoes. At the height of the violent battle, an
enemy battleship came slashing through the darkness and both ships headed at
full speed for the same spot. The destroyer unleashed her torpedoes and using
all her firepower, machine-gunned the battleship's bridge. With a battleship
on her stern, a second on her port beam, and two destroyers on her port bow,
LAFFEY ought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in
a no-quarter duel at point blank range. Suddenly, from the battleship whose
bridge she had shot away, came a salvo of 14-inch guns, swamping the crippled
destroyer. Then a torpedo in her fantail put LAFFEY out of action. As the
order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer
apart; and she sank immediately. But her gallant skipper and crew had made
the enemy pay a fearful price of one battleship severely damaged, one cruiser
and two destroyers sunk.
LAFFEY was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her gallant performance
in the South Pacific and three battle stars for World War II service.
Benson - Class
Completed - 1938 - 43
DD 421 - Benson DD 422 - Mayo
DD 425 - Madison DD 426 - Lansdale
DD 427 - Hilary P. Jones DD 428 - Charles F. Hughes
DD 459 - Laffey DD 460 - Woodworth
DD 491 - Farenholt DD 492 - Bailey
DD 598 - Bancroft DD 599 - Barton
DD 600 - Boyle DD 601 - Champlin
DD 602 - Meade DD 604 - Parker
DD 605 - Caldwell DD 606 - Coghlan
DD 607 - Frazier DD 608 - Gansevoort
DD 609 - Gillespie DD 610 - Hobby
DD 611 - Kalk DD 612 - Kendrick
DD 613 - Laub DD 614 - MacKenzie
DD 615 - McLanahan DD 616 - Nields
DD 617 - Ordronaux
Notes:
* The Gleaves, Livermore and Benson class were combined into the Benson class.
Dimensions
Displacement:
1,620 tons (stand)
2,450 tons (Mean War Service)
Length: 348' (oa)
Beam: 36'
Draft: 14' (max)
Armament
4 5"/38 DP
2 40mm twins (none on DD 366)
7-8 20mm
2 DC tracks
4-6 DC projectors
1 21" TT (quads)
Propulsion
Speed: 33 knots (max)
Max. Cruising radius:
2,400 miles @ 25 knots
4,700 miles @15 knots
Horsepower: 50,0000 (shaft)
Drive: 2 screws; geared turbine
Fuel: 503 tons oil (max)
Remarks:
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U.S.S. LAFFEY
U.S.S.
LAFFEY Index page
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