USS Laffey ( DD - 459 ) USS " Laffey " ( DD - 459 ) was a " Benson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II . She was the first destroyer named for Bartlett Laffey . " Laffey " was laid down 13 January 1941 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company , San Francisco , California ; launched 30 October 1941 ; sponsored by Miss Eleanor G . Forgerty , granddaughter of Seaman Laffey ; and commissioned 31 March 1942 , Lieutenant Commander William E . Hank in command . She was lost in action on 13 November 1942 . Service history . After shakedown off the west coast , " Laffey " headed for the war zone via Pearl Harbor , arriving at Efate on 28 August 1942 . She steamed in the antisubmarine screen until she joined Task Force 18 on 6 September . When , her flagship , was sunk 15 September , " Laffey " rescued survivors and returned them to Espiritu Santo . She sailed with Task Force 64 and touched at Noumea , New Caledonia , 18 September . " Laffey " saw her first fleet action in the Battle of Cape Esperance ( also known as the Second Battle of Savo Island ) on 11 and 12 October 1942 . The destroyer operated with Admiral Norman Scott ' s cruiser group , guarding against enemy attempts to reinforce Guadalcanal . On 11 October , when the group formed into single column , " Laffey " joined two other destroyers in the van . About an hour later sailors ran to their battle stations , steel doors clanged shut , and all made ready for battle . When the engagement began , " Laffey " raked with three of her 5 - inch guns . The furious gunfire roared on through the night . At dawn , was sinking , was badly damaged , and , though hard hit , had weathered several powerful blows . On the other hand , the Japanese losses were even greater . was sinking , was badly damaged , and had sunk . After the battle , " Laffey " rendezvoused with a group escorting transports from Nouméa 11 November , and sailed to Lunga Point , arriving the next day . The disembarking operations were interrupted by a heavy air attack . On Friday 13 November 1942 " Laffey " was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under Admiral Daniel J . Callaghan . Early in the mid - watch the radar operator reported contact with the enemy . The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal was just about to begin when the Japanese force , a group of two battleship s , one light cruiser and 14 destroyers , under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe , appeared on the horizon . " Laffey " lashed out at the enemy with gunfire and torpedoes . At the height of the violent battle , came through the darkness and both ships headed at full speed for the same spot . They missed colliding by 20 feet . " Laffey " unleashed her torpedoes and , using all her firepower , raked the battleship ’ s bridge , wounding Admiral Abe , and killing his chief of staff . With a battleship on her stern , a second on her port beam , and two destroyers on her port bow , " Laffey " fought the Japanese ships with the three remaining main battery guns in a no - quarter duel at point - blank range . She was hit by a 14 - inch shell from " Hiei " . Then a torpedo in her fantail put " Laffey " out of action . As the order to abandon ship was passed , a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life . " Hiei " sank much later , as were two other destroyers , with Abe surviving . This action earned her the Presidential Unit Citation . Awards . " Laffey " was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her performance in the South Pacific , and three battle star s for service in World War II .