USS Halford, a Fletcher-class destroyer, received a catapult for a float plane in place of her aft torpedo mount and one of her main guns, allowing the ship to launch a Kingfisher scout observation plane. The catapult turned out not to be operationally suitable for the intended purpose and was ultimately removed from Halford in October 1943. In 1944, the ship provided fire cover for amphibious operations on the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and the Philippines; she took part in battles in the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. During the course of World War II, Halford was awarded 13 battle stars.