22 Kamikaze Attacks in 80 Minutes Couldn’t Sink This Destroyer — Now You Can Walk Her Battle-Scarred Decks

USS Laffey, Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

They called her ‘The Ship That Would Not Die.’ The USS Laffey took everything the Japanese could throw at her in 1945 and stayed afloat. Now at Patriots Point, she’s more than just a museum ship, she’s proof of what pure grit looks like. Here’s the story of the toughest destroyer in the Pacific War.

You can visit her today at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where she rests in honor.

This is the story of the USS Laffey, aka “The Ship That Would Not Die.”

Rising from Bath Iron Works

Workers laid Laffey’s keel on June 28, 1943, at Bath Iron Works in Maine. This Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer took shape over the following months until her launch on November 21, 1943.

She was named for Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Seaman Bartlett Laffey. His daughter, Beatrice F. Laffey, sponsored the destroyer at its christening.

The Navy commissioned USS Laffey on February 8, 1944, with Commander Frederick J. Becton taking command. After completing initial training, the new vessel prepared to join the war effort in Europe.

Commander Becton’s Leadership

Captain Frederick Becton brought unique qualifications to his role as Laffey’s first commanding officer.

Becton had witnessed the sinking of the first USS Laffey (DD-459) and had survived his USS Aaron Ward being struck by kamikazes.

With this perspective, Becton implemented rigorous training drills. Many crew members later credited these intensive drills for their success in battle at both Normandy and Okinawa.

Normandy Invasion Duty

USS Laffey arrived off Utah Beach at dawn on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The destroyer escorted tugs, landing craft, and Dutch gunboats from Plymouth, England to the invasion beaches.

Once at the Normandy coast, Laffey provided crucial fire support for troops moving inland. Her guns targeted German defensive positions, helping clear paths for advancing Allied forces.

Shortly after the invasion, a German shore battery damaged Laffey when a shell pierced her hull but failed to explode. Despite this close call, the ship continued her screening duties.

Laffey remained in the Normandy area until June 22, when she returned to England.

Damaged During a Bombardment Mission

After initial success at Normandy, Laffey continued supporting Allied operations along the French coast. The ship participated in bombardment missions targeting German positions that threatened Allied advances.

On June 25, 1944, Laffey took part in the bombardment of Cherbourg, where she sustained another hit.

The destroyer returned to Boston for an overhaul and installation of updated electronic equipment, before its reassignment to the Pacific theater.

Joining the Pacific Theater

After refitting, Laffey headed for the Pacific war zone via the Panama Canal. She arrived at Pearl Harbor in September 1944 and underwent additional training in Hawaiian waters.

The shift to Pacific operations required adjustments in tactics and procedures. The nature of naval warfare differed significantly from the European theater, with greater emphasis on anti-aircraft defense against Japanese air attacks.

By October 23, 1944, Laffey departed for active combat operations and soon joined Task Force 38. Her new assignment involved screening larger vessels during strike operations against Japanese targets in the Philippines.

Serving During the Philippine Campaign

During January 1945, Laffey screened amphibious ships landing troops in the Lingayen Gulf area of Luzon as part of the Seventh Fleet. The destroyer provided protective cover against enemy air and surface threats.

This period marked Laffey’s introduction to kamikaze attacks, as Japanese pilots increasingly resorted to suicide tactics. The ship’s gunners demonstrated their proficiency by fending off these dangerous assaults.

After completing her Philippines assignments, Laffey retired to the Caroline Islands, arriving at Ulithi on January 27. This brief respite allowed for maintenance and resupply before her next deployment.

The Philippines campaign prepared the crew for the intense aerial attacks they would soon face near Okinawa.

Surviving Ferocious Kamikaze Attacks

On April 12, 1945, Laffey received orders to proceed to Radar Picket Station No. 1, located 30 nautical miles northwest of Okinawa’s northern tip. This assignment placed her in an extremely vulnerable position.

On April 16, during a Japanese Kikusui raid, Laffey faced an overwhelming attack by 22 aircraft. In an 80-minute battle, Japanese planes focused their assault on the destroyer from multiple directions simultaneously.

The ship’s gunners, utilizing Becton’s intensive training, successfully shot down the first eight attackers. However, the sheer number of planes eventually overwhelmed their defenses.

Despite being badly damaged by four bombs and six kamikaze crashes, Laffey continued fighting.

This remarkable survival earned her the nickname “The Ship That Would Not Die.”

The Extraordinary USS Laffey Crew

The April 16 attack resulted in 32 crew members killed and 71 wounded out of Laffey’s complement of 336 men.

Medical personnel worked tirelessly to tend the wounded while damage control teams fought to save the ship. Their combined efforts prevented the loss of both additional lives and the vessel itself.

When asked if they should abandon ship, Captain Becton firmly replied, “I’ll never abandon ship as long as a single gun will fire!”

Post-Attack Recovery

After the devastating attack, Laffey was taken under tow and anchored off Okinawa on April 17, 1945. Crews made urgent temporary repairs to stabilize the damaged vessel.

The destroyer then sailed for Saipan, arriving on April 27. Four days later, she began the journey toward the west coast, traveling via Eniwetok and Hawaii before reaching Tacoma, Washington on May 24.

At Todd Shipyard Corporation, Laffey underwent extensive repairs until September 6, 1945. Workers addressed the severe damage from bombs and kamikaze impacts throughout the ship.

These repairs restored the destroyer to operational condition, allowing her to continue serving in the post-war Navy despite her grievous wounds.

Post-WWII Service

Following World War II, Laffey participated in atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946, gathering scientific data on nuclear explosions. This assignment marked her transition to Cold War duties.

During the Korean War, Laffey returned to combat operations. She later played an active role in the Cold War as an anti-submarine warfare vessel in the Mediterranean.

The ship maintained readiness during tense moments of the Cold War, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, when she stood by in Alexandria, Virginia, prepared to evacuate senior Navy personnel from the Pentagon if necessary.

Final Active Years

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Laffey conducted regular operations along the east coast and in the Caribbean.

Training exercises kept her crew proficient in anti-submarine warfare and other mission requirements. Laffey frequently deployed with destroyer squadrons for extended operations.

By the 1970s, the aging destroyer’s role diminished as newer vessels entered service. The Navy finally decommissioned Laffey on March 29, 1975, and struck her from the Naval Vessel Register.

This ended her 31 years of active service spanning three major conflicts and countless peacetime missions protecting American interests worldwide.

A New Chapter as a Museum Ship

In 1978, Laffey began her second career when she joined Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

The ship received recognition as a National Historic Landmark in 1986, acknowledging her historical significance as the only remaining Sumner-class destroyer in U.S. hands.

Saving USS Laffey

In October 2008, Patriots Point officials discovered over 100 leaks in Laffey’s hull, threatening her continued existence as a museum ship.

South Carolina provided a $9.2 million loan to fund repairs. On August 19, 2009, tugs towed Laffey to Detyens Shipyards in North Charleston for extensive work in dry dock.

Repair crews replaced rusted, corroded hull sections with thicker plating and performed miles of welding before applying new protective paint.

After repairs, Laffey returned to Patriots Point, where she continues to welcome visitors interested in naval history.

Visiting USS Laffey Today

Meet her at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC.

• Hours: Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last ticket sold at 4 p.m.)
• Admission: Adults $28, Children 6-12 $23, Children under 6 free (special discounts for military, seniors, and teachers)

You’ll be able to go on self-guided tours of all accessible areas including gun mounts, crew quarters, engine rooms, and special exhibits about the April 16, 1945 kamikaze attack.

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