USS SAUFLEY DDE 465

• Namesake: USS Saufley (DD/DDE-465) was named after Lieutenant Richard C. Saufley, a pioneering U.S. Navy aviator who contributed significantly to early naval aviation before his death in 1916. • Class: She was a Fletcher-class destroyer, one of the most successful and numerous destroyer classes of World War II. • Commissioning: USS Saufley was commissioned on 29 August 1942 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey. • World War II Service: Saufley played a critical role in the Pacific Theater, participating in the Solomon Islands campaign, including landings at Guadalcanal, New Georgia, and Bougainville. • Submarine Kill: On 15 August 1943, Saufley was credited with sinking the Japanese submarine Ro-101 near Kolombangara, Solomon Islands—one of the few destroyers to achieve such a feat. • Kamikaze Attack: During the Leyte Gulf operations in November 1944, Saufley was attacked by kamikaze aircraft but suffered only minor damage and continued her mission. • Reclassification: In 1949, she was reclassified from DD-465 to DDE-465 and converted for anti-submarine warfare, reflecting Cold War priorities. • Scientific Contributions: In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Saufley served as a test platform for advanced sonar and anti-submarine weapons, contributing to naval technology development. • Vietnam War: Saufley returned to combat service during the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and taking part in patrol operations along the Vietnamese coast. • Final Fate: After decades of service, USS Saufley was decommissioned in 1965 and sunk as a target off the coast of Florida in 1968, ending her distinguished naval career.