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Battle of Leyte Gulf


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Battle of Leyte Gulf

 

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, Battle of Leyte Gulf[4][5]

 

It was fought in waters of the Leyte Gulf, near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar andLuzon, from 23–26 October 1944, between combined American and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied inSoutheast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion but was repulsed by the U.S. Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The IJN failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never sailed to battle in comparable force thereafter. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War.[6][7]

 

The battle consisted of four separate engagements between the opposing forces: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions.[8]

 

It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze attacks.[6][7]By the time of the battle, Japan had fewer aircraft than the Allied forces had sea vessels, demonstrating the difference in power of the two sides at this point of the war.[9] Scissors-32x32.png

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300px-Princeton_burning.jpg
The light aircraft carrier Princeton on fire, east of Luzon, 24 October 1944. Date 23–26 October 1944 Location Leyte Gulf, Philippines Result Decisive Allied victory; Japanese military naval capabilities are crippled Territorial
changes Allies liberate Leyte island, then the entire Philippine archipelago; crucial oil supply lines to Japan are crippled Belligerents 23px-US_flag_48_stars.svg.pngUnited States
23px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.pngAustralia 22px-Merchant_flag_of_Japan_%281870%29.sEmpire of Japan Commanders and leaders 23px-US_flag_48_stars.svg.png William Halsey, Jr.
(3rd Fleet)
23px-US_flag_48_stars.svg.png Thomas C. Kinkaid
(7th Fleet)
23px-US_flag_48_stars.svg.png Clifton Sprague
(Taffy 3 / Task Unit 77.4.3)
23px-US_flag_48_stars.svg.png Jesse B. Oldendorf
(Task Group 77.2)
23px-Flag_of_Australia.svg.png John Augustine Collins
(Task Force 74) 23px-Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg.png Takeo Kurita
(Center Force)
23px-Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg.png Shōji Nishimura
(Southern Force)
23px-Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg.png Kiyohide Shima
(Southern Force)
23px-Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg.png Jisaburō Ozawa
(Northern Force)
23px-Naval_Ensign_of_Japan.svg.png Yukio Seki

Scissors-32x32.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_naval_battle_in_history

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Glorious Death: The Battle of Leyte Gulf,
October 23 -- 25, 1944

By Tim Lanzendörfer

The four-day battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 marked the eclipse of Imperial Japanese naval power, the last sortie in force of the Imperial Navy, and the largest naval battle ever fought on the face of the earth.

 

It was separated in four parts, each carrying its own name: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, when U.S. carrier planes struck the IJN’s Center Force and sank battleship Musashi; the Battle of Cape Engaño, where U.S. carriers destroyed the Japanese carrier force that had served as a deception; the Battle of Surigao Strait, where U.S. and Japanese battleships fought the last dreadnought engagement of all times; and lastly, the Battle off Samar, where the Japanese Center Force took to sinking the U.S. escort carriers defending the beachhead and were soundly defeated by miniscule forces.

 

Strategic Background

At the conclusion of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the debate on the continuation of the war once more started. Two distinct factions were opposing each other: the Navy, led by Admirals Nimitz and King, vowed to take Formosa in the ultimate extension of island-hopping, neutralizing the Philippine Japanese Army garrison by air blockade. Formosa, sitting astride the seaways from the Dutch East Indies to Japan,

Scissors-32x32.pnghttp://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/leyte_gulf.htm

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