Dragon 1026 U.S.S. LAFFEY DD-459 1942

USS Laffey (DD-459) was an American WWII destroyer. The keel for this vessel was laid in 1941, and the launch took place in October of the same year. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 106 meters and the width was 11 meters. The displacement reached approx. 1,620 tons, and the maximum speed was approx. 37-38 knots. The armament at the time of the launch consisted of, among other things, four 127 mm guns, five 20 mm anti-aircraft guns and five 533 mm torpedo tubes.

USS Laffey (DD-459) was one of the Benson-class destroyers. Units of this type were designed and built as - in fact - a modernized Sims class. Compared to her, the Benson-class ships differed in their power plant and torpedo armament. Externally, they were also very similar to the Gleaves-class destroyers. USS Laffey (DD-459) was built at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in San Francisco, California. Immediately after entering the service, he was directed to the Pacific. On September 6, 1942, the destroyer joined Task Force 18. As part of this team, he participated in the rescue operation after the sinking of the USS Wasp. The destroyer also took part in the so-called Second Battle of Savo Island in October 1942. USS Laffey (DD-459) was unfortunately sunk shortly later - on November 13, 1942, during the naval battle near Guadalcanal, after a heroic fight with Japanese units, including the battleship Hiei.