(02) Victory at Sea: The Battle for Leyte Gulf 2 of 3

[Artas1984]

7:53 - that's the actual footage of the anvil attack - amazing!!! Ι have never seen this before..

[MrMelon49]

My father, Peter A. "Shanghai" Niemi, and I just watched this episode. He served aboard CVE 66 White Plains in the battle of Samar. He has many memories of this battle.

[BonJoviSuperFan2]

Japan's need to win to America cause no more attacks for america

[02vincent92]

binzhent psyk-star........... :D



[02vincent92]

binzhent psyk-star........... :D

[hahahappy07]

this is so biased.

[Artas1984]

hahaha, pt boat destroyed a Fuso class BB?

[2bn442RCT]

@Artas1984 If they said that they are wrong. No PT's acored any hits. The US destroyers caused serious damage with their torps.

[hubergeek]

@Artas1984 I think it's true, I saw a documentary about that.

[kalimaneando]

Be proud for those who died.

[ia57man]

I do not believe in the history of the American military there is a more gallant action than the attack of the US destroyers in the battle off Samar.

[fuhmeregan]

I hope as many people as possible buy Last Stand of the Tincan Sailors ... to find out the absolute greatness of Navy Men when inspired by a Navy man like Ernest Evans, and all whom then charged-in and charged-to to meet Mega Force with him. Like another poster here, I havn't heard of mismatch like this before! ... and all due to Evans' having no sense of humour at all about japs, and especially when they come after the kids he's part of guarding. Evans, first to fight, USS Johnston.

[2bn442RCT]

I read that book a couple months ago. I hated the book "Flyboys."

[fuhmeregan]

these documentaries while appreciated much! don't mention Evans was the ONLY member of the whole of the American force there (puny in size and gunnery, compared to MASSIVE fleet bearing down on it) that posthumously won the Medal of Honor. Probably because he was an indian. He inspired ALL americans there - no one there cared about who the admiral was: they just knew Evans, only a destroyer captain, was turning to charge the enemy, that he was pissed, and they wanted to be part of it too!!

[fuhmeregan]

Evans was known as a fighter, all out. He ignored waiting for orders, and, commanding his "pisspot small" destroyer, piddly 5" guns and four torps (I think), he barked to his crew to heel the boat over onto a course putting him dead-on for the massive jap Center Force, heavy cruisers, Yamato in the middle of it, and added right away "Flank speed!". I.e., Captain Ernest Evans had NO patience for japs attacking the kids on the beach Taffy3 was there to protect. (cont.)

[fuhmeregan]

The Battle off (Isl of) Samar scared Kurita's panties off, so he turned back to minimize losses and he'd lost Musashi, Y. sister ship. He didn't want to be the dumb coward captain that lost both of the finest ships japan had. ***The error Center Force made was pissing off a one American Indian, Ernest Evans. He wasn't commanding Taffy3 so he couldn't attack the japs bearing down on 100K+ young yank soldiers forming a beachhead on Leyte. So? Idling along he tired of 'waiting for a plan'. (cont.)

[2bn442RCT]

Thanks for your comments. Probably the bravest naval action in World War II.

[Shoes386]

"Last Stand" is a great book, but incomplete. "Valor at Samar" is more complete re the Battle off Samar. This "Victory at Sea" is poor. Watch the "Battlefield" series do. It's much better.

[HoustonGD]

I'm not sure how you can say it's incomplete

[skibluiz]

A highly recommended read is the book 'Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors' . It's a great re-telling of the battle off Samar described here. Truly a remarkable story...as it states in the book it may be the greatest effort in US naval history.

[2bn442RCT]

Yes I finished reading this book a month ago. I will post the Doc in a week or two

[10278081]

Thank you for posting. By the way, were u a member of the 2nd battalion, 442 regimental combat team?

[2bn442RCT]

No. But my uncle commanded it during World War II. The info is on the introduction page

[MIT1369]

Thanks for posting. History is always welcome.