History Channel - History Classics Hero Ships (2008) Part 8 USS Laffey

History Classics: Hero Ships

For nearly a hundred years, these steel, grey-skinned battlewagons have fought off everything from Al Qaeda to dive-bombing Kamikazes. Some returned from the hell of war to become major tourist attractions for new generations. Others continue to patrol the world's trouble-spots in America's latest war. History Classics: Hero Ships profiles the complete combat history and evolving technology of a single American ship, often through multiple conflicts. These are the battleships, destroyers, aircraft carriers, submarines, and specialized ships that belong in the warship hall of fame. Archival footage and interviews are punctuated by all-access inspections of the ship's “battle stations,” conducted by young, active Navy sailors. The series lets us understand the role of each weapon and technology, the dramas that unfolded in different rooms during the heat of battle, and the unique traditions and stories of each vessel.

Part 8: USS Laffey

The only preserved Allen M. Sumner class destroyer preserved in her World War II configuration, the USS Laffey is also the only surviving destroyer of the period that saw action in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theatre. USS Laffey acted first as an escort for convoys to Great Britain, staying overseas in 1944 to prepare for the invasion of France.