Benson class destroyers built for the US Navy between 1938 and 1943, 30 ships in the family including USS Laffey (DD-459) - not to be confused with USS Laffey (DD-724), surfaced a few years later . USS Laffey (DD-459) was laid by Bethlehem Shipbuilding in San Francisco, California on January 13, 1941 and launched on October 31, 1941 - just months before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (which plunged the United States into WW2 port). Commissioned on March 31, 1942, she will be a victim of war by the end of the year.
When built, USS Lafite had a full-load displacement of 1,620 tons, a length of 347.9 feet, a beam of 36 feet, and a draft of nearly 17.8 feet. The installed power consists of 4 Babcock & Wilcox boilers providing 2 shafts to 2 Bethlehem Steel gear steam turbines producing 50,000 hp.
Top speed reaches 37.5 knots and range is up to 7,500 miles.
Her profile includes an integrated bridge and main mast for the front superstructure. At the back are two smoke funnels (inline) and a shorter superstructure. Compared to the stern, her bow is significantly raised, with the hull lines extending towards the stern.
Her total crew number was 208 officers and men - although she carried 247 in her final battle.
The armament line is led by 4 x 5" (127 mm)/38 caliber dual-purpose (DP) guns mounted on armored turrets (single emplacement, two front and three rear. 5 x 20 mm Oerlikon Anti-aircraft (AA) guns handle close-range air threats and 3 x 21" (530mm) torpedo tubes handle surface ship threats.
5 depth charge projectors are installed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), as well as 2 depth charge tracers. [ /p]
Destroyers were originally developed to counter the threat of torpedo boats to capital ships in the early 1900s. This used to refer to them as "torpedo boat destroyers", although by World War II these types were simply considered "destroyers".
These ships are fast, maneuverable, and moderately armed, and can operate in deep water independently of a fleet or as part of a large combat naval force.
During World War II, Lafite underwent her "makeover" on the West Coast of the United States. She arrived in Efate by the end of August 1942 and joined Task Force 18 (TF18) the following month. As the USS Wasp sank, her emergency services were called.
TF64 was subsequently added before the end of September.
She then took part in the Battle of Cape Esperance (Second Battle of Savo Island) on 11-12 October. Her 5" gun was aimed at the enemy and she hit the enemy cruiser IJN Aoba - damaging the ship. She escorted the transport ship in November before inflicting damage on the battleship IJN Hiei in the naval battle of Guadalcanal. A battle approached the small battleship, and she herself was damaged by projectiles and torpedoes, immobilizing her. The order to abandon the ship was issued, and the ship was lost.
However, an internal explosion worsened the situation, claiming the lives of dozens of crew members. The damage was enough to destroy the ship and the remains of the crew still on board in a short period of time. During the battle, 59 of her crew were killed and 116 wounded.
She and her crew were awarded three Battle Stars and the Navy Presidential Unit Medal for their service.
USS Lafite (DD-724) Restored USS Lafite (detailed elsewhere on this page), commissioned in 1944 and known as the "Ship of the Undead". The incarnation successfully survived the remainder of the war and served in the Cold War for decades before being decommissioned and preserved as a floating museum in Patriots Point, South Carolina.
- Blue Water Operations
- Fleet Support
- Hunter
- direct attack
341 feet (103.94 m)
36 feet (10.97 m)
5.43m
2,500 tons
38 kn (43 mph)
6,517 nautical miles (7,500 miles; 12,070 km)
4 x 5" (127 mm)/38 caliber guns in four single gun turrets (two front, two rear).
5 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun (AA)
3 x 21" (530mm) torpedo tubes
5 x Deep Charge Projector
2 deep magazine racks
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