USS Laffey (DD-459)

Casualty List

Navy US Navy
Type Destroyer
Class Bristol 
Pennant DD 459 
Built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co. (San Francisco, California, U.S.A.) 
Laid down 13 Jan 1941 
Launched 30 Oct 1941 
Commissioned 31 Mar 1942 
Lost 13 Nov 1942 
Loss position off Savo, Solomon Islands
History USS Laffey (Lt Cdmr William Edwin Hank) fought several battles as the Navy's youngest destroyer. At Guadalcanal, 14-inch shells from the Japanese battleship Hiei ripped her open, starting fires. The order to abandon ship was given as a torpedo came and tore her to pieces, detonating her depth charges. 56 of the crew died and 186 were rescued by higgin boats though 114 were wounded. The Commanding officer was killed in the sinking and the Laffey earned a Presidential Unit Citation for this action. 
Commander Lt.Cdr. William Edwin Hank, USN  31 Mar 1942---13 Nov 1942