USS Laffey (DD-724)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Laffey.

USS Laffey (DD-724) in 1964
Career (U.S.)
Name:	USS Laffey
Namesake:	Bartlett Laffey
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	28 June 1943
Launched:	21 November 1943
Commissioned:	8 February 1944
Decommissioned:	29 March 1975
Struck:	1 March 1975
Fate:	Preserved as memorial and berthed at Patriot's Point, Charleston, South Carolina
General characteristics
Class and type:	Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,200 long tons (2,200 t)
Length:	376 ft 6 in (114.76 m)
Beam:	40 ft (12 m)
Draft:	15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Installed power:	60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × steam turbines 2 × shafts
Speed:	34 kn (39 mph; 63 km/h)
Range:	6,500 nmi (7,500 mi; 12,000 km) @ 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement:	336
Sensors and processing systems:	Radar
Armament:	6 × 5 in (130 mm)/38 cal dual purpose guns 12 × 40 mm anti-aircraft guns 11 × 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons 10 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes 6 × depth charge projectors 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Laffey (DD-724), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was the 2nd ship of the United States Navy to be named for Bartlett Laffey. Seaman Laffey was awarded the Medal of Honor for his stand against Confederate forces on 5 March 1864. The ship earned the nickname "The Ship That Would Not Die" for her exploits during the D-Day invasion and the battle of Okinawa when it successfully withstood a determined assault by both conventional and kamikaze air attacks. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark and is preserved as a museum ship in Charleston, South Carolina but has been closed since August 4th, 2009.^[1]

Laffey's keel was laid down on 28 June 1943 by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine; launched on 21 November; sponsored by Ms. Beatrice F. Laffey, daughter of Seaman Laffey; and commissioned on 8 February 1944, with Commander F. Julian Becton in command.

Service history

World War II

Upon completion of underway training, Laffey visited Washington Navy Yard for one day and departed on 28 February 1944, arriving Bermuda on 4 March. She returned briefly to Naval Station Norfolk, where she served as school ship, then headed for New York to join the screen of a convoy escort for England on 14 May. Refueling at Greenock, Scotland, the ship continued on to Plymouth, England, arriving on 27 May.

Laffey immediately prepared for the invasion of France. On 3 June, she headed for the Normandy beaches escorting tugs, landing craft, and two Dutch gunboats. The group arrived in the assault area, off Utah beach, Baie de la Seine, France, at dawn on D-Day, 6 June 1944. On 6–7 June, Laffey screened to seaward, and on 8–9 June, she successfully bombarded gun emplacements. Leaving the screen temporarily, the ship raced to Plymouth to replenish and returned to the coast of Normandy the next day. On 12 June, Laffey pursued enemy U-boats which had torpedoed the destroyer Nelson. The destroyer broke up their tight formation and prevented further attacks.

Screening duties completed, the ship returned to England, arriving at Portsmouth on 22 June, where she tied up alongside the battleship Nevada. On 25 June, she got underway with the battleship to join Bombardment Group 2 shelling the formidable defenses at Cherbourg-Octeville. Upon reaching the bombardment area, the group was taken under fire by shore batteries; destroyers Barton and O'Brien were hit. Laffey was hit above the waterline by a ricocheting shell, but it failed to explode and did little damage.

Late that day, the bombardment group retired and headed for Ireland, arriving at Belfast on 1 July 1944. She sailed with Destroyer Division 119 (DesDiv 119) three days later for home, arriving at Boston on 9 July. After a month of overhaul, the destroyer got underway to test her newly installed electronic equipment. Two weeks later, Laffey set course for Norfolk, arriving on 25 August.

Laffey during World War II

The next day, the destroyer departed for Hawaii via the Panama Canal and San Diego, California, arriving at Pearl Harbor in September. On 23 October, after extensive training, Laffey, departed for the war zone, via Eniwetok mooring at Ulithi on 5 November. The same day, she joined the screen of Task Force 38 (TF 38), then conducting airstrikes against enemy shipping, aircraft, and airfields in the Philippines. On 11 November, the destroyer spotted a parachute, left the screen, and rescued a badly wounded Japanese pilot who was transferred to the aircraft carrier Enterprise during refueling operations the next day. Laffey returned to Ulithi on 22 November, and on 27 November set course for Leyte Gulf with ships of Destroyer Squadron 60 (DesRon 60). Operating with the 7th Fleet, the destroyer screened the big ships against submarine and air attacks, covered the landings at Ormoc Bay on 7 December, silenced a shore battery, and shelled enemy troop concentrations.

After a short upkeep in San Pedro Bay, Leyte on 8 December, Laffey with ships of Close Support Group 77.3 departed on 12 December for Mindoro, where she supported the landings on 15 December. After the beachhead had been established, Laffey escorted empty landing craft back to Leyte, arriving at San Pedro Bay on 17 December. Ten days later, Laffey Joined Task Group 77.3 (TG 77.3) for patrol duty of Mindoro. After returning briefly to San Pedro Bay, she rejoined the 7th Fleet, and during the month of January 1945 screened amphibious ships landing troops in the Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon. Retiring to the Caroline Islands, the destroyer arrived at Ulithi on 27 January. In February, the ship supported TF 58, conducting diversionary air strikes on Tokyo and direct air support of Marines fighting on Iwo Jima. Late in February, Laffey carried vital intelligence information to Admiral Chester Nimitz at Guam, arriving on 1 March.

The next day, the destroyer arrived at Ulithi for intensive training with battleships of TF 54. On 21 March, she sortied with the task force for the Okinawa invasion. Laffey helped capture Kerama Retto, bombarded shore establishments, harassed the enemy with fire at night and screened heavy units.

Kamikaze assault

On 15 April 1945, Laffey was assigned to radar picket station 1 about 30 mi (26 nmi; 48 km) north of Okinawa, and joined in repulsing an air attack which downed 13 enemy aircraft that day. The next day, the Japanese launched another air attack with some 50 planes:

• At 08:30, four Vals broke formation and made a dive into Laffey. Two of the Vals were destroyed by 20 mm guns and the other two low angle attacks crashed into the sea. Immediately afterward, one of Laffey′s gunners destroyed a Judy making a strafing approach on the port beam. Ten seconds later, Laffey′s main gun battery hit a second Judy on a bombing approach from the starboard beam. The bomb near-missed, wounding the starboard gunners. The flames were quickly extinguished by the damage control team.
• At 08:42, Laffey destroyed another Val approaching the port side. Three minutes later, another Val approaching from port crashed into one of the 40 mm mounts of the ship, killing three men, destroying 20 mm guns and two 40 mm guns, and setting the magazine afire. Immediately afterward, another Val made a strafing approach from the stern, impacted the after 5"/38 caliber gun mount, and disintegrated as its bomb detonated the powder magazine, destroying the gun turret and causing a major fire. Another Val making a similar approach from astern also impacted the burning gun mount after being set afire by Laffey′s gunners. At about the same time, another Val approaching from astern dropped its bomb and jammed Laffey′s rudder 26° to port and killing several men. Another Val and another Judy approached from port and hit Laffey.

Meanwhile, four FM-2 Wildcats took off from the escort carrier Shamrock Bay, attempting to intercept kamikazes attacking Laffey. One of the Wildcat pilots, Carl Rieman, made a dive into the kamikaze formation and targeted a Val. His wingman took out that dive bomber while Rieman lined up behind another Val, opened fire, and destroyed the enemy aircraft. Ten seconds later, Rieman pursued a Kate torpedo plane, fired, and killed the Japanese pilot. Only five seconds later, Rieman lined up behind another Kate and expended the last of his ammunition. The other three Wildcats destroyed a few aircraft, and all returned to the Shamrock Bay low on fuel. The Wildcats were replaced by a group of 12 American Vought F4U Corsair fighters.

Another Val approached the disabled Laffey from port. A Corsair pursued the kamikaze and destroyed it after forcing it to overshoot the ship. The Corsair lined up behind an Oscar making a strafing approach on Laffey from starboard. One of Laffey′s gunners hit the Oscar, causing it to crash into the ship's mast and fall into the water. The pursuing Corsair also crashed into the ship's radar antenna and fell into the water, but the pilot was later rescued by LCS-51.

Another Val came from the stern and dropped a bomb detonating off the port side. The Val was later destroyed by a Corsair. The Corsair quickly lined up behind another Val and fired; but the bomb from the second Val hit and destroyed Laffey′s 40 mm turret, killing all its gunners. The Corsair lined up behind two Oscars approaching from the bow, took out one, and was shot down by the other. The victorious Oscar was then shot down by Laffey′s gunners. Laffey′s main battery destroyed a Val approaching from starboard. The last attacker, a Judy, was shot down by a Corsair.

Laffey survived despite being badly damaged by four bombs, six kamikaze crashes, and strafing fire that killed 32 and wounded 71. The assistant communications officer — Lt. Frank Manson — asked Captain Becton if he thought they'd have to abandon ship, to which he snapped, "No! I'll never abandon ship as long as a gun will fire." Becton did not hear a nearby lookout softly say, "And if I can find one man to fire it."^[2]

Post-war

Laffey was then taken under tow and anchored off Okinawa on 17 April. Temporary repairs were rushed and the destroyer sailed for Saipan, arriving on 27 April. Four days later, she got underway for the west coast via Eniwetok and Hawaii, arriving at Tacoma, Washington on 24 May. She entered drydock at Todd Shipyard Corp.^[3] for repair until 6 September, then sailed for San Diego, arriving on 9 September.

Two days later, the ship got underway for exercises but collided with PC-815 in a thick fog. She rescued all but one of the PC's crew before returning to San Diego for repairs.

On 5 October, she sailed for Pearl Harbor, arriving on 11 October. Laffey operated in Hawaiian waters until 21 May 1946, when she participated in Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, actively engaged in collecting scientific data. Radioactive decontamination of Laffey required "sandblasting and painting of all underwater surfaces, and acid washing and partial replacement of salt-water piping and evaporators."^[4] Upon completion of decontamination, she sailed for the west coast via Pearl Harbor arriving San Diego on 22 August for operations along the west coast.

In February 1947, Laffey made a cruise to Guam and Kwajalein and returned to Pearl Harbor on 11 March. The ship operated in Hawaiian waters until departing for Australia on 1 May. She returned to San Diego on 17 June, was decommissioned on 30 June 1947, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Korean War

Laffey was recommissioned on 26 January 1951, with Commander Charles Holovak in command. After shakedown out of San Diego, the destroyer headed for the east coast of the U.S., arriving at Norfolk in February for overhaul followed by refresher training at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. In mid January 1952, she sailed for Korea, arriving in March. The ship operated with TF 77 screening carriers Antietam and Valley Forge.

In May, with Captain William Whiteside in command, Laffey sailed to Wonsan Harbor where she took part in blockade operations in Korea.

"… Although frequently subjected to hostile fire in Wonsan Harbor while embarked in his flagship, the U.S.S. LAFFEY, Captain Whiteside conducted a series of daring counterbattery duels with the enemy and was greatly instrumental in the success achieved by his ship. By his inspiring leadership, sound judgment and zealous devotion to duty throughout, Captain Whiteside contributed materially to the success of the Naval blockade of the east coast of Korea and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Dan A. Kimball,
Secretary of the Navy"

After a brief refit at Yokosuka on 30 May, the ship returned to Korea where it rejoined TF 77. On 22 June, Laffey sailed for the east coast, transiting the Suez Canal and arriving Norfolk on 19 August.

The destroyer operated in the Caribbean with a hunter-killer group until February 1954, departing on a world cruise which included a tour off Korea until 29 June. Laffey departed the Far East bound for the east coast via the Suez Canal arriving Norfolk on 25 August. Operating out of Norfolk, the destroyer participated in fleet exercises and plane guard duties and on 7 October rescued four passengers from Able, a schooner which had sunk in a storm off the Virginia Capes.

During the first part of 1955, Laffey participated in extensive antisubmarine exercises, visiting Halifax, Nova Scotia, New York City, Miami, and ports in the Caribbean. In 1958, she operated with ASW carriers in Floridian and Caribbean waters.

Cold War

On 7 November 1956, the destroyer departed Norfolk and headed for the Mediterranean at the height of the Suez Crisis. Upon arrival, she joined the 6th Fleet which was patrolling the Israeli-Egyptian border. When international tensions eased, Laffey returned to Norfolk on 20 February 1957, and resumed operations along the Atlantic coast. She departed on 3 September for NATO operations off Scotland. She then headed for the Mediterranean and rejoined the 6th Fleet. Laffey returned to Norfolk on 22 December. In June 1958, she made a cruise to the Caribbean for a major exercise.

Returning to Norfolk the next month, she resumed regular operations until 7 August 1959, when she deployed with DesRon 32 for the Mediterranean. Laffey transited the Suez Canal on 14 December, stopped at Massana, Eritrea, and continued on the Aramco loading port of Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, where she spent Christmas. The destroyer operated in the Persian Gulf until late January 1960, when it transited the Suez Canal and headed for home, arriving at Norfolk on 28 February. Laffey then operated out of Norfolk, making a Caribbean cruise; in mid-August, the ship participated in a large naval NATO exercise. In October, the ship visited Antwerp, Belgium, returning to Norfolk on 20 October, but headed back to the Mediterranean in January 1961.

While there, she assisted Palma de Mallorca on 23 June. Two days later, the task group departed for a surveillance mission observing Soviet naval forces training in the Mediterranean. Laffey visited Mediterranean ports of Naples, Italy; Théoule, France; Rota and Valencia, Spain, returning to Norfolk on 3 September. Laffey continued to make regular Mediterranean cruises with the 6th Fleet and participated in numerous operational and training exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Honors

USS Laffey
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Laffey in 2007
Nearest city:	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Coordinates:	32°47′23″N 79°54′28″W / 32.78972°N 79.90778°W / 32.78972; -79.90778Coordinates: 32°47′23″N 79°54′28″W / 32.78972°N 79.90778°W / 32.78972; -79.90778
Built:	1943
Architect:	Bath Iron Works
Governing body:	State
NRHP Reference#:	83002189
Significant dates
Added to NRHP:	April 12, 1983[5]
Designated NHL:	January 14, 1986[6]

Laffey received the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and five battle stars for World War II service, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and two battle stars for Korean War service, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

Laffey was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986.^[7]

Present day

Laffey is currently a museum ship that was formerly at Patriot's Point in Charleston, South Carolina, alongside three other U.S. National Historic Landmarks: the aircraft carrier Yorktown, cutter Ingham, and submarine Clamagore. Laffey is currently berthed at the South Carolina Ports Authority pier at Veterans Terminal in North Charleston.^[8] In October 2008, it was discovered that over 100 leaks had sprung up in Laffey′s hull.^[9] Officials at Patriot's Point were afraid that she would not survive much longer.^[9] An estimated $9 million was needed to tow the ship to dry dock and repair her. Patriot's Point officials secured a $9.2 million loan from the state of South Carolina.^[8] On 19 August 2009, she was towed to Detyens Shipyards^[8] in North Charleston on the Cooper River for repair.^[10] Laffey was taken to the Detyens Shipyard to be repaired in dry dock.^[8] The rust-eaten, corroded hull was repaired with thicker plating, miles of welding, and new paint.^[8] On 16 April 2010, the Board of Trustees of Clemson University reached a lease agreement for Patriots Point organization to moor Laffey adjacent to Clemson’s property at the former Navy base in North Charleston.^[11]

References

1. ^ http://www.patriotspoint.org/exhibits/
2. ^ Gandt, Robert (2010). The Twilight Warriors. Broadway Books. pp. 265. ISBN 978-0-7679-3241-7. 
3. ^ Tacoma Times,USS Laffey DD-724 Arrives at Tacoma for Repairs, Tacoma Public Library South Sound Photo Archive
4. ^ Delgado, James P., et al., The Archeology of the Atomic Bomb - A Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment of the Sunken Fleet of Operation Crossroads at Bikini and Kwajalein Atoll Lagoons, National Park Service, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1991, p 33.
5. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
6. ^ "Laffey, USS (Destroyer)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1869&ResourceType=Structure. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
7. ^ National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: LaffeyPDF (32 KB). National Park Service. , 19.  and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 19.PDF (32 KB)
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} Bird, Allyson (February 11, 2010). The USS Laffey's greatest battle? Against time. Charleston, SC: The Post and Courier. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Bird, Allyson (February 21, 2009). Will friends be able to save the 'Ship that Would Not Die'?. Charleston, SC: The Post and Courier. 
10. ^ Associated Press (19 August 2009). "Historic WWII destroyer heading to SC dry-dock". The State (Columbia, South Carolina: The McClatchy Company). http://www.thestate.com/breaking/story/907668.html?storylink=pd. Retrieved 19 August 2009. ^{[dead link]}
11. ^ "Clemson trustees take action on academic, facility issues". Clemson.edu. http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/article.php?article_id=2733. Retrieved 2010-04-17. 

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Dogfights, Kamikaze

External links

• history.navy.mil: USS Laffey
• navsource.org: USS Laffey
• hazegray.org: USS Laffey
• Patriot's Point Maritime Museum
• The Ship That Would Not Die — F. Julian Becton, who served as Commander of Laffey during World War II, wrote this wartime history of the destroyer.
• HNSA Web Page: USS Laffey
• USS Laffey (DD-724)
• Our Navy Magazine article USS Laffey August 1945