[2] After shakedown off the west coast, Laffey headed for the war zone via Pearl Harbor, arriving at Efate on 28 August 1942.

At dawn, destroyer Duncan was sinking, Farenholt was badly damaged, and cruiser Boise, though hard hit, had weathered several powerful blows.

[2] After the battle, Laffey met with a group escorting transports from Nouméa on 11 November, and sailed to Lunga Point, arriving the next day.

It was a Japanese force of two battleships, one light cruiser, and 14 destroyers, under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, and the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal began.

[3][4][5] Laffey unleashed her torpedoes and, using all her firepower, raked the battleship's bridge,[2] wounding Admiral Abe, and killing his chief of staff.

[8] As the order to abandon ship was passed, a violent explosion ripped the destroyer apart and she sank immediately with heavy loss of life.

[9] Laffey was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her performance in the South Pacific, and three battle stars for service in World War II.