USS La Vallette (DD-448) was a World War II-era in the service of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship named after Rear Admiral Elie A. F. La Vallette. La Vallette was laid down 27 November 1941 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey; launched 21 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Lucy La Vallette Littel, great-granddaughter of Rear Admiral LaVallette; and commissioned 12 August 1942. History After training and escort duty in the Caribbean and Atlantic, La Vallette departed New York 16 December 1942 for the Panama Canal and Pacific duty. Battle of Rennell Island Her first contact with the enemy came on 29 January 1943, at about 19:00 when she sighted a formation of 11 to 13 Japanese bombers, in three close formation sections 12 miles west of her position. The aircraft were identified as “Bettys” carrying out strafing and torpedo runs. One torpedo was reported as passing astern and the USS was hit by two torpedoes, causing heavy damage and bringing her to a dead stop, necessitating her being taken in tow. La Vallette claimed to have shot down three aircraft using her 5-inch guns. The following day, the damaged Chicago, was attacked again, 34 miles south of Rennell Island by a group of 11 Bettys at an altitude of 500 feet, from the ship's port beam. The starboard section of aircraft attacked La Vallette, two aircraft were claimed shot-down and her 20mm and 40mm guns had three aircraft approaching from the starboard section under fire, two of which passed over the ship in flames. Five others passed about 600 yards from her port side, with two more reported to be on fire. Five torpedoes were dropped and as the ship swung left, a torpedo hit the destroyer in her forward engine room, killing 22 of her crew and causing heavy damage. The USS Chicago was sunk, as a result of four more torpedo hits. Following this action, La Vallette was towed to Espiritu Santo by the , arriving on 3 February 1943. Once repaired, La Vallette left 6 August for Pearl Harbor, where she joined a carrier force for a strike on Marcus Island 31 August before returning to patrol duty in the Solomon Islands. On the nights of 1 and 2 October, she spotted Japanese barges off Kolombangara, of which she claimed four sunk and two damaged. La Vallette carried out