Benson-class destroyer USS Gillespie, DD 609

Thirty 1620-ton Benson-class destroyers were built in two groups. The first six were authorized in fiscal year 1938 and laid down at

CONTENTS

Losses.
Decorations.
Links to all ships.

Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, Massachusetts and three navy yards.
   The remaining 24 “repeat Bensons” were authorized in 1941–42 and built at four Bethlehem Steel yards. They were laid down after the first group was commissioned. These plus the “repeat Livermores” were also known at the time as the Bristol class.

LOSSES
Laffey and Barton were lost at the Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942. Lansdale was lost in the Mediterranean 20 April 1944.

DECORATIONS
Laffey received a Presidential Unit Citation for her role in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Bailey received a Navy Unit Commendation for her role in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 26 March 1943. Hilary P. Jones received a Navy Unit Commendation for her role in the final operations in the Mediterranean Sea, September 1944.

LINKS TO ALL SHIPS
Click on any ship below to link to its home page on this site or a photo.
cl_bensonUSS BensonUSS MayoUSS MadisonUSS LansdaleUSS Hilary P. JonesUSS Charles F. HughesUSS LaffeyUSS WoodworthUSS FarenholtUSS BaileyUSS BancroftUSS BartonUSS BoyleUSS ChamplinUSS MeadeUSS MurphyUSS ParkerUSS CaldwellUSS CoghlanUSS FrazierUSS GansevoortUSS GillespieUSS HobbyUSS KalkUSS KendrickUSS LaubUSS MacKenzieUSS McLanahanUSS NieldsUSS Ordronaux


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