USS Laffey

The Ship That Would Not Die!

@USSLaffey youtu.be/l7qlyU6wR08?si…

"The longest three hours ever experienced by all hands on board." #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

The attack was over... #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

A Judy came in from the port bow, the CAP in hot pursuit. Port 40s and 20s took him under fire and he blew up close aboard, with the CAP pouring tracers into him until he splashed. 2/2 The one barely cleared the ship and was splashed by the CAP a good distance off the port quarter. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

1/2 A Val came out of a shallow five off the starboard bow and strafing as he came in dropped a bomb which demolished 20MM group 21, which had him under continuous fire as did also the forward 5" and the starboard 40s. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

2/2 The one barely cleared the ship and was splashed by the CAP a good distance off the port quarter. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

2/2 He was flamed by the CAP ahead of the ship. Group 21 of the 20MM battery kept the plane under constant fire until he had splashed clear of the ship. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

1/2 Another Val in a glide through the smoke astern dropped a bomb which exploded just aft of mount three to port. The plane took off the starboard yardarm and kept going. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

3/3 At the very same time mount 52 hit the Oscar, the alert mount captain of 5" mount 51 shifted to local control and opened up on a Val diving from ahead at 1500 yards splashing it about 500 yards from the ship with Victor Tare projectiles. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

2/3 An Oscar, approaching from the starboard beam disintegrated about 500 yards from the ship from a direct hit in the engine from 5" mount 52 which was matching up pointers in manual. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

1/3 A Judy, approaching from the starboard quarter was knocked down by 20MMs of group 21 and 40MMs of group 41 at a distance of about 800 yards from the ship. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

Meanwhile a Judy, splashed close aboard on the port beam by the CAP, exploded and flying fragments from the exploding plane and large bomb he carried knocked out all power in 52, which thereafter operating effectively in manual. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

3/3 The Corsair pilot was seen to roll his plane over and bail out and it is believed, and sincerely hoped, that he was rescued. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

2/3 Oscar and Corsair both hit the mast, knocking off the SG antenna, the port yardarm, and the SG wave guide. All radars and all radios except MAN and TCS were out of commission after this hit. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

1/3 An Oscar broke off from a dog fight off the port bow, headed for the ship with a Corsair in close pursuit. The machine guns took him under fire until he crossed over the ship and crashed off the starboard beam. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

With all guns aft of number 2 stack now knocked out, and while damage control personnel were fighting raging fires dangerously near the after magazine, two Japanese planes crash into the after deckhouse in quick succession, from port beam end and quarter. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

8/8 while it was 26 degrees to port. After that, evasive maneuvers were confined to rapid acceleration and deceleration, as the ship swung through tight circles with full engine power still available. #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

7/8 the plane made his escape apparently unharmed. The bomb struck the ship at or just below the deck edge and exploded in the 20MM magazine C-210M. Flying fragments from this explosion ruptured hydraulic leads in the steering gear room and jammed the rudder ... #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point

6/8 then leveled off when just above the water and dropped bomb which landed on the port quarter above the propeller guard, possibly an attempt at skip bombing. Plane was under brief fire by after 20MM mount of group 24 but ... #OTD #USSLaffey #80thAnniversary #KamikazeAttack #Okinawa #WWII #USNavy #TinCanSailors #TheShipThatWouldNotDie @Patriots_Point