The destroyer that survived the most intense kamikaze assault in naval history

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as The Ship That Would Not Die, the USS Laffey endured a brutal 80-minute kamikaze onslaught off Okinawa in 1945. Despite sustaining catastrophic damage from six suicide plane crashes and four bomb hits, the destroyer refused to sink, cementing its status as a legend of naval resilience.

Commissioned in February 1944, the Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724) quickly proved its mettle. After participating in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the ship was deployed to the Pacific theater. Its defining moment occurred on 16 April 1945, while serving as a radar picket station north of Okinawa. During a massive air attack involving approximately 50 Japanese aircraft, the Laffey faced an unrelenting wave of kamikaze strikes. The ship was hit by six suicide planes and four bombs, while strafing fire raked its decks. The devastation was severe, killing 32 crew members and wounding 71 others, yet the ship remained afloat. When asked if the crew should abandon ship, Captain Frederick J. Becton famously refused, declaring he would not leave as long as a single gun could fire.

Following the war, the Laffey continued its service, participating in the 1946 Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, which necessitated extensive radioactive decontamination. The ship later served during the Korean War, notably taking part in the blockade of Wonsan Harbor, where it engaged in daring counterbattery duels with shore defenses. Throughout the Cold War, the destroyer maintained a rigorous operational schedule, including Mediterranean deployments and antisubmarine exercises, before being decommissioned in 1975 as the final Sumner-class destroyer in service.

Today, the Laffey is preserved as a U.S. National Historic Landmark at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Its survival has become a subject of intense historical interest, featured in documentaries like the History Channel's Dogfights and planned for a feature film titled Destroyer. The ship's physical preservation has been a monumental task; in 2009, it underwent a major drydock restoration after over 100 leaks threatened its structural integrity. With a hull reinforced by miles of welding and new plating, the vessel remains a testament to the durability of its construction and the tenacity of its wartime crew, serving as a floating museum that honors its storied past.

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