USS Laffey (DD-724) facts for kids
USS Laffey (DD-724) in 1964
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Name | Laffey |
| Namesake | Bartlett Laffey |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Laid down | 28 June 1943 |
| Launched | 21 November 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Ms. Beatrice F. Laffey |
| Commissioned | 8 February 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 30 June 1947 |
| Recommissioned | 26 January 1951 |
| Decommissioned | 9 March 1975 |
| Stricken | 9 March 1975 |
| Status | Museum ship berthed at Patriots Point, Mount Pleasant, 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 |
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| Speed | 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) |
| Range | 6,500 nmi (7,500 mi; 12,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 336 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
Radar |
| Armament |
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USS Laffey
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Laffey in 2007
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 Location in South Carolina
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| Nearest city | Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| Built | 1943 |
| Architect | Bath Iron Works |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002189 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 12 April 1983 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
The USS Laffey (DD-724) is a famous destroyer ship from the United States Navy. It was built during World War II and launched in 1943. The ship earned the nickname "The Ship That Would Not Die." This was because it survived huge attacks during the D-Day invasion and the Battle of Okinawa. Today, the Laffey is a special U.S. National Historic Landmark. You can visit it as a museum ship at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
The Laffey was named after Bartlett Laffey, a brave sailor. He received the Medal of Honor for his courage in 1864.
Contents
Building and Joining the Fleet
The Laffey was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Its construction started on June 28, 1943. The ship was launched on November 21, 1943. Ms. Beatrice F. Laffey, the daughter of Seaman Laffey, was the ship's sponsor. The Laffey officially joined the Navy on February 8, 1944. Frederick Becton was its first commander.
Wartime Adventures
World War II Missions
After training, the Laffey sailed to Bermuda in March 1944. It then served as a training ship in Norfolk, Virginia. In May, it joined a group of ships heading to England. They arrived in Plymouth, England, on May 27.
D-Day Invasion
The Laffey quickly got ready for the invasion of France. On June 3, it sailed towards the Normandy beaches. It helped escort tugboats and landing craft. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Laffey was off Utah Beach. It protected other ships and fired at enemy gun positions. On June 12, the Laffey chased enemy E-boats (small, fast attack boats). It broke up their formation, stopping them from attacking more ships.
After D-Day, the Laffey returned to England. On June 25, it joined other ships to shell the strong defenses at Cherbourg-Octeville. During this attack, the Laffey was hit by a shell. Luckily, the shell did not explode, and the damage was minor. The ship then sailed back to the United States, arriving in Boston on July 9, 1944.
Pacific Ocean Battles
After repairs, the Laffey headed to Hawaii, arriving in September. In October, it joined Task Force 38 in the Philippines. This group launched air attacks against enemy ships and airfields. On November 11, the Laffey rescued a wounded Japanese pilot.
The Laffey then moved to Leyte Gulf to help the 7th Fleet. It protected larger ships from attacks. It also helped with landings at Ormoc Bay and fired at enemy positions. In January 1945, it supported landings in the Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon. In February, it helped Task Force 58 with air strikes on Tokyo and supported Marines fighting on Iwo Jima.
The Laffey then prepared for the Battle of Okinawa. On March 21, it sailed with Task Force 54. It helped capture Kerama Retto, fired at enemy bases, and protected other ships.
The Kamikaze Attack
On April 16, 1945, the Laffey was on radar picket station 1, about 30 miles north of Okinawa. This meant it was the first ship to spot incoming enemy planes. That day, it helped shoot down 13 enemy aircraft.
The next day, April 17, the Japanese launched a massive air attack with about 50 planes. The Laffey was the main target.
- At 8:30 AM, an Aichi D3A Val bomber appeared. It was shot at and left. Soon, four D3As attacked the Laffey. Two were destroyed by guns, and two crashed into the sea.
- A Yokosuka D4Y strafed the ship, but a gunner destroyed it. Another D4Y dropped a bomb, which exploded in the water, injuring some gunners.
- At 8:42 AM, the Laffey destroyed another D3A. Three minutes later, another D3A crashed into one of the ship's gun mounts. This killed three men, destroyed guns, and started a fire.
- Another D3A hit the back of the ship, destroying a gun turret and causing a huge fire. Another D3A also crashed into the burning gun mount.
- A D3A dropped a bomb that jammed the Laffey's rudder, making it hard to steer. More planes hit the ship.
Meanwhile, American planes from nearby carriers came to help. Four FM-2 Wildcats attacked the kamikazes. One pilot, Carl Rieman, shot down two enemy planes and damaged another. Other Wildcats also destroyed enemy aircraft. Later, 12 Vought F4U Corsair fighters from the Marines arrived. They were a great help to the Laffey.
- A Corsair chased and destroyed a D3A that had overshot the Laffey.
- An Oscar plane crashed into the ship's mast after being hit by Laffey's guns. The Corsair chasing it also crashed but the pilot was rescued.
- More bombs hit the Laffey, and more planes crashed into it. One bomb destroyed a 40 mm gun mount, killing all its gunners.
- The Laffey's main guns kept firing, destroying more planes. The last attacker, a D4Y, was shot down by a Corsair.
The Laffey was badly damaged. It was hit by four bombs and six kamikaze crashes. Thirty-two sailors were killed, and 71 were wounded. Despite the chaos, Captain Becton refused to give up. He famously said, "No! I'll never abandon ship as long as a single gun will fire."
After the War
The Laffey was towed to Okinawa for quick repairs. Then it sailed to Saipan and later to Tacoma, Washington, for major repairs. These repairs lasted until September 1945.
In September, the Laffey was involved in a collision with a submarine chaser, PC-815, in thick fog. It rescued most of the other ship's crew.
In 1946, the Laffey took part in Operation Crossroads. This was a series of atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. The ship collected scientific data. After the tests, it had to be cleaned of radiation. The Laffey was then decommissioned (taken out of service) on June 30, 1947.
Korean War Service
The Laffey was brought back into service on January 26, 1951. It sailed to Korea in March 1952. There, it protected aircraft carriers like Antietam and Valley Forge.
In May, the Laffey helped with the blockade of Wonsan in Korea. Captain Henry J. Conger, the ship's commander, bravely fought enemy shore batteries. His leadership helped the Navy succeed in blocking the coast.
After a short break, the Laffey returned to Korea. In June 1952, it sailed back to the United States through the Suez Canal.
Cold War Operations
The Laffey then operated in the Caribbean Sea and took part in anti-submarine exercises. In 1954, it went on a world cruise, including another tour off Korea. It returned to Norfolk in August 1954.
In 1956, the Laffey sailed to the Mediterranean Sea during the Suez Crisis. It joined the 6th Fleet to patrol the border between Israel and Egypt. It returned to Norfolk in 1957.
The Laffey continued to make trips to the Mediterranean and participate in NATO exercises. In 1959, it sailed through the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. It operated there until January 1960.
In 1961, the Laffey helped a British freighter called MV Dara that was in trouble. The ship continued training and serving as a test ship. From 1963 to 1964, it worked with a hunter-killer group. It also took midshipmen on a cruise to the Mediterranean. The Laffey kept making regular trips to the Mediterranean and taking part in training exercises.
The Laffey was finally decommissioned for good on March 9, 1975. It was the last of its kind, the Sumner-class destroyers, to be taken out of service.
Awards and Recognition
The Laffey received many awards for its service:
- The Presidential Unit Citation and five battle stars for its actions in World War II.
- The Korean Presidential Unit Citation and two battle stars for its service in the Korean War.
- The Meritorious Unit Commendation during the Cold War.
- The Battle "E" for excellence in all three conflicts.
In 1986, the Laffey was named a National Historic Landmark. This recognized it as the only remaining Sumner-class destroyer owned by the U.S. and for its amazing survival of the kamikaze attack.
The Laffey Today
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Today, the Laffey is a museum ship at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It is displayed alongside other famous ships like the aircraft carrier Yorktown and the submarine Clamagore.
In 2008, it was found that the Laffey had over 100 leaks in its hull. Officials worried the ship might sink. It needed about $9 million for repairs. South Carolina provided a loan to cover the costs. On August 19, 2009, the ship was towed to North Charleston for repairs in a drydock. Its rusty hull was fixed with new, thicker metal and fresh paint.
On January 25, 2012, the Laffey returned to Patriots Point. Many former crew members were there to greet it. One veteran said, "The Germans tried to sink her. The Japanese tried to sink her and then she tried to sink herself sitting here. She's whipped them all and she's back again." It cost $1.1 million to bring the ship back and prepare its new spot at the museum.
