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| USN Benson-class destroyer 1,620 Tons 347' 10" x 36' 1" x 11' 10" 4 x 5"/38 cal guns 1 x 1.1" AA gun 5 x 20mm cannons 5 x 21" torpedo tubes 5 x depth charge proj 2 x depth charge tracks  USN September 4, 1942  USN September 15, 1942 |
Sinking History Built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in San Francisco. Laid down January 13, 1941. Launched October 30, 1941 as USS Laffey (DD-459) named for Seaman Bartlett Laffey sponsored by his granddaughter, Miss Eleanor G. Forgerty. Commissioned March 31, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with Lieutenant Commander William E. Hank in command. Afterwards, underwent a shakedown off the west coast of the United States. Wartime History During August 1942 departs the west coast via Pearl Harbor to the South Pacific. On August 28, 1942 arrives Efaté and performs anti-submarine patrols. On September 6, 1942 joins Task Force 18 (TF 18). On September 15, 1942 after the sinking of USS Wasp (CV-7) helps rescues survivors then transports them to Espiritu Santo the next day. Afterwards, departs with Task Force 64 (TF 64). On September 18, 1942 arrives Nouméa Harbor on New Caledonia then departs for Guadalcanal. On October 11, 1942 participates in the Battle of Cape Esperance (Second Battle of Savo Island) as one of five destroyers escorting five cruisers off Guadalcanal. During the engagement, Laffey fired on Heavy Cruiser Aoba. Afterwards, escorts transports from Nouméa Harbor to Guadalcanal arriving November 11, 1942. On November 12, 1942 in the evening placed into the van of a column as the second of eight destroyers guarding five cruisers under the command of Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. The U.S. Navy Landing Support Group included USS Cushing (DD-376), USS Laffey (DD-459), USS Sterett (DD-407), USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Atlanta (CL-51), USS San Francisco (CA-38) Admiral Callaghan's flagship, USS Portland (CA-33), USS Helena (CL-50), USS Juneau (CL-52). Trailing behind to the southeast is USS Aaron Ward (DD-483), USS Barton (DD-599), USS Monssen (DD-436) and USS Fletcher (DD-445). Sinking History On November 13, 1942 at 1:25am at the start of the first phase of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (Third Battle of the Solomon Sea) spotted a Japanese force of battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Around 1:48am both forces opened fire when Battleship Hiei and Akatsuki turned on their searchlights to illuminate USS Atlanta (CL-51) only 3,000 yards away and opened fire. At 1:53am Laffey launched five torpedoes and USS Cushing (DD-376) launch six torpedoes aimed at Battleship Hiei. Only one torpedo hits and explodes, the others either miss or fail to arm or explode. Afterwards, USS Laffey (DD-459) passed within 20' of Hiei with all available guns firing that scored hits on the bridge bridge wounding Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe and killing his Chief of Staff, Captain Suzuki Masakane. Caught between Japanese battelships and destroyers, Laffey continued to fire at point-blank range until hit by a 14" shell fired by Hiei and a torpedo that hit the fantail. Disabled, the crew were ordered to abandon ship. The destroyer exploded and quickly sank with the loss of 59 crew including Lt. Commander William E. Hank. Awards For her World War II service, Laffey earned three battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for her role during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Memorials The crew lost in the sinking were declared Missing In Action (MIA) and officially declared dead on November 14, 1943. Each is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Lt. Commander Hank was promoted to the rank of Commander, posthumously. He earned the Navy Cross with Gold Star and the Purple Heart, posthumously. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Laffey I (DD-459) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - USS Laffey (DD-459) photographs NavSource - USS Laffey DD-459 (photos) Destroyer History Foundation - USS Laffey DD-459 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Hank FindAGrave - Cdr William E. Hank (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - CDR William Edwin Hank (memorial marker) Contribute
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 Map November 13, 1942 Map Iron Bottom Sound |
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