USS Chevalier ( DD - 451 ) USS " Chevalier " ( DD - 451 ) , a " Fletcher " - class destroyer , was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for Lieutenant Commander Godfrey Chevalier . " Chevalier " was launched 11 April 1942 by Bath Iron Works Corp . , Bath , Maine ; sponsored by Mrs . G . DeC . Chevalier , commissioned 20 July 1942 , Lt . Comdr . E . R . McLean , Jr . in command . History . Between 3 October and 11 December 1942 " Chevalier " made three convoy escort voyages : one coastwise , with tankers ; a second , from Bermuda to Norfolk , Virginia and with one of the first reinforcement convoys for North Africa . Sailing from Norfolk 17 December , " Chevalier " reached Efate , New Hebrides 22 January 1943 . On 27 January she sortied with Task Force 18 ( TF 18 ) to cover the movement of troop transports to Guadalcanal . On 29 and 30 January " Chevalier " joined in protective antiaircraft fire as her force came under intensive Japan ese air attack in the Battle of Rennell Island . " Chevalier " operated on patrol from Efate , and after 14 February from Espiritu Santo . On 7 May 1943 she escorted three minelayer s as they mined Blackett Strait , and Kula Gulf , Solomon Islands . The next night three Japanese destroyers , " Kuroshio " , " Oyashio " , and " Kagero " , ran into the minefield and were severely damaged by the mines and then sunk by aircraft . Between 11 May and 14 May , " Chevalier " joined in the bombardment of Vila , and covered another minelaying operation in Kula Gulf . On 28 June 1943 the destroyer again sailed from Espiritu Santo as a part of the covering force for troops bound for landings at Rice anchorage to block Japanese movements from Vila to Munda , Solomon Islands . The group entered Kula Gulf shortly before midnight , 1 July , and began to bombard Vila and Bairoko Harbor , while the transports headed for the anchorage . During the operation the American force was attacked by three Japanese destroyers which launched torpedo es , and retired at high - speed . One of the Japanese torpedoes hit " Strong " ( DD - 467 ) , tearing open her hull amidships on both sides . " Chevalier " deliberately rammed her bow into " Strong " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s port side and lay alongside for several minutes while " Strong " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s survivors crawled on board . Japanese shore batteries opened fire on the stricken ship , but " Chevalier " remained alongside until 241 survivors had come on board , while " O ' Bannon " ( DD - 450 ) delivered counterfire against the Japanese . " Chevalier " pulled clear of " Strong " at 01 : 22 , and the stricken destroyer sank a minute later . " Chevalier " had torn a hole 10 by 2 feet in her bow , but it did not seriously impair her operating ability as it was well above her waterline . The destroyer returned to Espiritu Santo 8 July for repairs . Repairs completed 22 July 1943 , " Chevalier " operated throughout the Solomons on patrol and escort duty until 14 August . On 15 August the destroyer covered the landings at Vella Lavella , Solomon Islands . On the 17th " Chevalier " and three other destroyers were dispatched to intercept four Japanese destroyers and several enemy barges who were attempting to reinforce Kolombangara . After a brief encounter between the destroyers , in which neither side suffered to any great extent , the Japanese destroyers departed the area , abandoning the barges . The American forces turned their attention to this objective and sank or severely damaged all of them . The destroyer returned to Espiritu Santo 29 August and during September made an escort voyage to Sydney , Australia . On 6 October 1943 " Chevalier " , " O ' Bannon " , and " Selfridge " ( DD - 357 ) intercepted nine Japanese destroyers and destroyer transports attempting to evacuate troops from Vella Lavella , Solomon Islands . Although greatly outnumbered , the American destroyers attacked . After firing half of their torpedoes and scoring several hits with gunfire , the group continued to steam into the line of fire of enemy torpedoes in order to keep their own guns bearing . At approximately 22 : 05 " Chevalier " was struck on the port bow by an enemy torpedo which tore her bow off to the bridge , throwing the ship entirely out of control . The destroyer " O ' Bannon " which was following " Chevalier " could not avoid the damaged destroyer and rammed her in the after engine room , flooding that space and stopping " Chevalier " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s port shaft . While making preparations to abandon ship , " Chevalier " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s skipper ordered the torpedoes in her tubes to be fired at the Japanese destroyer " Yugumo " . The burning Japanese ship blew up soon after . By 23 : 26 it was apparent that " Chevalier " could not be saved and the order was given to abandon Ship . Her crew was picked up by " O ' Bannon " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s boats , and " Chevalier " was sunk the following day by a torpedo from the USS La Vallette . Her severed bow was located about a mile to the west and was sunk with depth charge s . " Chevalier " lost 54 killed , and suffered 36 wounded . Honors . " Chevalier " received three battle star s for World War II service .