Overview of the Order of Battle for Leyte Gulf
The Battle of Leyte Gulf , generally considered to be the largest naval combat in history, was fought 24–25 October 1944 in the waters of the Philippine Islands by elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy 's Combined Fleet (bringing together the IJN's 2nd Fleet , 3rd Fleet and 5th Fleet ) and the United States Navy 's Pacific Fleet (bringing together the USN's 3rd Fleet and 7th Fleet ). Of the five separate engagements that made up the battle as a whole, the forces involved in the three principal ones are listed here.
Since the Japanese assumed the tactical initiative in all three actions, their forces are listed first in each section.
Losses in these three actions IJN: 1 fleet carrier, 3 light carriers, 2 old battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 9 destroyers, 1 oilerUSN: 2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 destroyer escort
The light aircraft carrier USS Princeton was heavily damaged and scuttled with great loss of life on 24 October while engaging in battle against land-based Japanese aircraft flying into the Leyte area east of Luzon . The loss of Princeton is always included in the casualties of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
24–25 Oct – Battle of Surigao Strait (according to Tully, Anthony (2009). Battle of Surigao Strait . Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-35242-2 . )
Vice Adm. Shoji Nishimura (KIA) Battleship Fusō Heavy cruiser Mogami Destroyer Shigure , sole survivor of Nishimura's force
Japanese Forces Southern Force Vice Admiral Shōji Nishimura (killed during battle) in battleship Yamashiro
Force C (sortied from Brunei Bay 22 Oct)Vice Adm. Nishimura (KIA)Battleship Division 2 (Vice Adm. Nishimura – KIA)2 Fusō-class old battleships (12 × 14-in. main battery)Fusō (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct) , Yamashiro (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct) 1 Mogami-class heavy cruiser (6 × 8-in. main battery)Mogami (damaged by gunfire and air attacks, scuttled 25 Oct) Destroyer Division 4 (Capt. K. Takahashi)3 Asashio-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)Michishio (sunk by torpedo and gunfire 25 Oct) , Yamagumo (sunk by torpedo 25 Oct) , Asagumo (sunk by torpedo and gunfire 25 Oct) 1 Shiratsuyu-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery)Shigure Second Striking Force [a] (sortied from Pescadores, Formosa 22 Oct)Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima in heavy cruiser Nachi Cruiser Division 21 (Vice Admiral Shima)2 Myōkō-class heavy cruisers (10 × 8-in. main battery)Nachi , Ashigara Destroyer Squadron 1 (Rear Adm. Masatomi Kimura)1 Nagara-class light cruiser (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)Abukuma (sunk by air attack 26 Oct) 4 destroyers2 Fubuki-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)Akebono , Ushio 1 Asashio-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)Kasumi 1 Kagero-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)Shiranui (sunk by air attack 27 Oct)
American Forces Light cruiser Denver Battleship Tennessee after modernization Seventh Fleet Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid in amphibious command ship Wasatch
Task Force 77 (Central Philippines Attack Force) Vice Admiral Kinkaid Task Group 77.2 Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf in heavy cruiser Louisville Task Unit 77.2.2 (Left Flank) Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf 3 heavy cruisers 1 Northampton-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)Louisville (Capt. S.H. Hurt) 1 Portland-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)Portland (Capt. Thomas G. W. Settle ) 1 New Orleans-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)Minneapolis (Capt. H.B. Slocum) 2 light cruisers Both Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery)Denver (Capt. Albert M. Bledsoe)Columbia (Capt. Maurice E. Curts ) Destroyer Squadron 56 (Capt. Roland N. Smoot )9 Fletcher-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery)Newcomb , Richard P. Leary , Albert W. Grant (damaged by friendly fire) , Robinson , Halford , Bryant , Heywood L. Edwards , Bennion , Leutze Task Unit 77.2.1 (Battle Line) Rear Admiral George L. Weyler in battleship Mississippi 6 old battleships 2 Colorado-class (8 × 16-in. main battery)West Virginia (Capt. Herbert V. Wiley)Maryland (Capt. Herbert J. Ray ) 2 Tennessee-class (12 × 14-in. main battery)Tennessee (Capt. J.B. Heffernan)California (Capt. H.P. Burnett) 1 New Mexico-class (12 × 14-in. main battery)Mississippi (Capt. H.J. Redfield) 1 Pennsylvania-class (12 × 14-in. main battery)Pennsylvania (Capt. C.F. Martin) 6 destroyers 4 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery)Sigourney , Claxton , Aulick , Cony 2 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery)Thorn , Welles Task Group 77.3 (Right Flank) Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey in light cruiser Phoenix 1 heavy cruiser1 County-class (8 × 8-in. main battery) Shropshire (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, RN) 2 light cruisersBoth Brooklyn-class Phoenix (15 × 6-in. main battery) (Capt. J.H. Duncan)Boise (15 × 6-in. main battery) (Capt. J.S. Roberts) Destroyer Squadron 24 (Capt. Kenmore M. McManes)5 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery)Hutchins , Bache , Beale , Daly , Killen 1 Tribal-class (8 × 4.7-in. main battery) Arunta Picket Patrol Destroyer Squadron 54 (Capt. Jesse G. Coward)Destroyer Division 1072 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery)Remey , Monssen Destroyer Division 1083 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery)McDermut , McGowan , Melvin Task Group 70.1 Motor Torpedo Boats 18 motor torpedo boats (MTB)MTB Squadron 7: MTBs 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 134, 137 MTB Squadron 12: MTBs 146, 150, 151, 152, 190, 191, 192, 194, 195, 196
25 Oct – Battle off Samar
Japanese Forces Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita American submarine photo of Kurita's Center Force departing Brunei Bay Heavy cruiser Chikuma Centre Force ('Force A') (sortied from Brunei Bay 22 Oct)
1st Section Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita Battleship Division 1 (Vice Adm. Matome Ugaki )2 battleshipsYamato (9 × 18-in. main battery)Nagato (8 × 16-in. main battery) Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita)1 heavy cruiserChōkai (10 × 8-in. main battery) (scuttled 25 Oct) Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Shintaro Hashimoto )1 heavy cruiserHaguro (10 × 8-in. main battery) Destroyer Squadron 2 (Rear Adm. Mikio Hayakawa)1 light cruiserNoshiro (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 26 Oct) 9 destroyers8 Yugumo-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)Akishimo , Asashimo , Fujinami (sunk by air attack 27 Oct) , Hamanami , Hayashimo (sunk by air attack 26 Oct) , Kishinami , Okinami , Naganami 1 Shimakaze (experimental destroyer type with 15 torpedo tubes)Shimakaze (6 × 5-in. main battery) 2nd Section Vice Admiral Yoshio Suzuki Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Suzuki)2 battleshipsKongō (8 × 14-in. main battery)Haruna (8 × 14-in. main battery) Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraishi)4 heavy cruisersKumano (10 × 8-in. main battery)Suzuya (10 × 8-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 25 Oct) Chikuma (8 × 8-in. main battery) (sunk/scuttled 25 Oct) Tone (8 × 8-in. main battery) Destroyer Squadron 10 (Rear Adm. Susumu Kimura )1 light cruiserYahagi (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) 6 destroyers5 Kagero-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)Hamakaze , Isokaze , Nowaki (sunk by air attack 26 Oct) , Urakaze , Yukikaze 1 Yugumo-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)Kiyoshimo
Note: Battleship Musashi and heavy cruisers Atago (Kurita's original flagship), Takao , Myōkō , and Maya had been assigned to Center Force, but had been sunk or damaged by air and submarine attacks prior to the Battle off Samar.
American Forces Escort carrier Gambier Bay Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber Seventh Fleet Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid in amphibious command ship Wasatch
Task Force 77 (Central Philippines Attack Force) Vice Admiral Kinkaid Task Group 77.4 (Escort Carrier Group) Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague 6 escort carriers Fanshaw Bay (Capt. D.P. Johnson)Composite Squadron 68 (Lt. Cmdr. R.S. Rogers)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers St. Lo (Capt. F.J. McKenna) (sunk 1125 hrs.) Composite Squadron 65 (Lt. Cmdr. R.M. Jones)17 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers White Plains (Capt. D.J. Sullivan)Composite Squadron 4 (Lt. E.R. Fickenscher)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Kalinin Bay (Capt. T.B. Williamson)Composite Squadron 3 (Lt. W.H. Keighley)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 1 TBF, 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Carrier Division 26 (Rear Adm. Ralph A. Ofstie )Kitkun Bay (Capt. J.P. Whitney)Composite Squadron 5 (Cmdr. R.L. Fowler)14 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Gambier Bay (Capt. W.V.R. Vieweg) (sunk 0907 hrs.) Composite Squadron 10 (Lt. Cmdr. E.J. Huxtable)18 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Screen 3 Fletcher-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery)Hoel (sunk 0855 hrs.) , Heermann , Johnston (sunk 1010 hrs.) 4 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery)Dennis , John C. Butler , Raymond , Samuel B. Roberts (sunk 1005 hrs.) Fletcher-class destroyer John C. Butler-class destroyer escort Task Unit 77.4.2 ("Taffy 2") Rear Admiral Felix B. Stump 6 escort carriers Natoma Bay (Capt. A.K. Morehouse)Composite Squadron 81 (Lt. Cmdr. R.C. Barnes)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Manila Bay (Capt. Fitzhugh Lee, III )Composite Squadron 80 (Lt. Cmdr. H.K. Stubbs)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Carrier Division 27 (Rear Adm. William D. Sample )Marcus Island (Capt. C.F. Greber)Composite Squadron 21 (Lt. Cmdr T.O. Murray)12 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Kadashan Bay (Capt. R.N. Hunter)Composite Squadron 20 (Lt. Cmdr. J.R. Dale)15 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Savo Island (Capt. C.E. Ekstrom)Composite Squadron 27 (Lt. Cmdr. P.W. Jackson)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Ommaney Bay (Capt. H.L. Young)Composite Squadron 75 (Lt. Cmdr. A.W. Smith)16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers Screen 3 Fletcher-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery)Haggard , Franks , Hailey 5 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery)Richard W. Suesens , Abercrombie , Oberrender , LeRay Wilson , Walter C. Wann
25 - 26 Oct – Battle off Cape Engaño Vice Adm. Jisaburo Ozawa Fleet carrier Zuikaku Battleship Ise after conversion to hybrid aircraft carrier Light cruiser Isuzu
Japanese Forces Northern Force ('Main Body') (sortied from Japanese Home Islands 20 Oct) Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa
Carrier Division 3 (Vice Adm. Ozawa)1 fleet carrierZuikaku (sunk by air attack 25 Oct) 3 light carriersZuihō (sunk by air attack 26 Oct) Chitose (sunk by air attack, gunfire and torpedoes 26 Oct) Chiyoda (sunk by air attack, gunfire and torpedoes 26 Oct) Combined air group39 Mitsubishi A6M2 'Zeke' fighters 42 Yokosuka D4Y1 'Judy' dive bombers 33 Nakajima B6N 'Jill' torpedo bombers 4 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers Carrier Division 4 (Rear Adm. Chiaki Matsuda)2 hybrid battleship carriers Ise (8 × 14-in. main battery)Hyūga (8 × 14-in. main battery)Combined air group for this operation: none Screen 1 light cruiserIsuzu (7 × 5.5-in. main battery) 8 destroyers4 Akizuki-class (6 × 3.9-in. main battery)Akizuki (sunk by air attack 25 Oct) , Hatsuzuki (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct) , Shimotsuki , Wakatsuki 4 Matsu-class (3 × 5-in. main battery)Kiri , Kuwa , Maki , Sugi 2 light cruisersTama (7 × 5.5-in. main battery) (sunk by submarine 25 Oct) Ōyodo (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) Supply Unit 2 oilers: Jinei Maru (sunk) , Takane Maru 1 destroyer: Akikaze (4 × 4.7-in. main battery) 6 escort vessels: CD-22 , CD-29 , CD-31 , CD-33 , CD-43 , CD-132
American Forces (according to [1] )
Third Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey in battleship New Jersey
Task Force 38 (Fast Carrier Force) Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier Lexington Task Group 38.2 (Task Group Two) Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan 1 fleet carrier Intrepid 2 light carriers Cabot Independence 2 fast battleships Both Iowa -class (9 × 16-in./50-cal. main battery)Iowa New Jersey 3 light cruisers Biloxi Vincennes Miami 16 destroyers Portside view of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9), 1944. Task Group 38.3 enters Ulithi led by USS Langley (CVL-27), 1944. Task Group 38.3 (Task Group Three) Rear Adm. Frederick C. Sherman 2 fleet carriers Essex Lexington 1 light carrier Langley 2 fast battleships Both South Dakota -class (9 × 16-in./45-cal. main battery)South Dakota Massachusetts 3 light cruisers Santa Fe Mobile Reno 10 destroyers Task Group 38.4 (Task Group Four) Rear Adm. Ralph E. Davison 2 fleet carriers Franklin Enterprise 2 light carriers San Jacinto Belleau Wood 2 fast battleships 1 North Carolina -class (9 × 16-in./45-cal. main battery)Washington 1 South Dakota -class (9 × 16-in./45-cal. main battery)Alabama 2 heavy cruisers New Orleans Wichita 15 destroyers Vice Adm. Willis A. Lee Task Force 34 (formed at 02:40 on 25 October, dissolved at 10:55 on 25 October) [2] Vice Adm. Willis A. Lee 6 fast battleships 2 heavy cruisers New Orleans Wichita 5 light cruisers Santa Fe Mobile Biloxi Vincennes Miami 18 destroyers
Notes ^ Shima arrived in Surigao Strait after the devastation of Force C. Unable to make contact with Nishimura, who was dead by that time, Shima made a perfunctory attack and retired. "Shima had unusual discretion for a Japanese admiral." (Morison 1958, p. 233)
References Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). Leyte, June 1944–January 1945 . History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. XII. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-7858-1313-6 . ^ UNITED STATES FLEET HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF (1945). BATTLE EXPERIENCE BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF. NAVY DEPARTMENT Washington DC. p. 78-7. Retrieved 28 December 2021 . ^ "No battle damage was incurred, nor inflicted on the enemy by vessels while operating as Task Force THIRTY-FOUR." https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Leyte/TF-34-Leyte.html