(1/5) Pacific Lost Evidence Leyte Gulf World War II

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The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted in 4 battles extending from Surigao Strait to Cape Engano.

The U.S. Navys 7th Fleets main task was to support and land the U.S. 6th Army at Tacloban beach in Leyte Gulf. The 7th Fleet (Kinkaid) consisted of: transports, destroyers cruisers, old battleships and escort carriers.

Protecting 7th Fleet was the massive U.S. Navys 3rd Fleet. Third Fleets task was too attack any Japanese Fleet presence and destroy Japanese land based air power.

A huge Japanese armada, the IJN Central Force (Kurita), was spotted by American reconnaissance planes, attempting to enter Leyte Gulf through the Sibuyan Sea. This fleet was attacked by the 3rd Fleets carrier aircraft. The 68,000 ton super battleship Musashi was sunk in this battle. (GDH)

While the 3rd Fleet (Halsey) was attacking the IJN Central Force, the IJN Southern Force (Shima and Nishimura) was attempting to enter Leyte Gulf, from the southern route, through Surigao Strait. The Southern Force was, for all intents and purposes, destroyed. In perhaps the most successful U.S. Navy torpedo attack in history, U.S. destroyers settled the Battle of Surigao Strait before any American battleships began firing.

Third Fleet believed that the IJN Central Force was in full retreat from the Philippines. However, Central Force had reversed direction and was attempting to re-enter Leyte Gulf. This Japanese plan succeeded and the Central Force began attacking elements of the escort carrier force in Leyte Gulf off Samar (Taffy 1, 2, 3). The Japanese attack was completely disorganized. Small U.S. Navy escort destroyer attacks through the whole Japanese fleet into confusion. The Central Force retreated thinking that larger American forces heard the desperate pleas from the Taffy carriers and were fast approaching the area. The U.S. escort destroyers incredible bravery saved many lives during this lopsided engagement.

The IJN Northern Force (Ozawa) was a diversionary force. The IJN plan to lure 3rd Fleet from supporting 7th Fleet had completely succeeded. This force was decimated by 3rd Fleets carrier aircraft off Cape Engano.

Leyte Gulf was an American victory. However, the mistakes made by American commanders clearly indicated the short comings, of the political decision, of not having an overall commander in chief, of the invasion of the Philippines.(GDH)

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[lovebugzy26]

a Golden history of my country with the help of American soldier againts the Japanes empire...

5 star and my favorite...

thanx.....

[emmthreejonny]

Its kind of strange hearing people say island in the middle of nowhere when you're living in that nowhere area. My grandmother said they could hear the battle all the way from Cebu a nearby island. I know those guns are loud but I dunno if they are that loud.

[topperheartramada]

@myth1032 imagine if the japs had converted to islam:) it would have been a nation of suicide bombers.

[myth1032]

kamikazes= worlds first suicide bombers

[Bachphien]

Great power of the 7th Fleet of US navy, no doute, BUT remember The Ho Chi Minh at sea in Vietnam War, ha?

[pttdude]

greatest naval battle of the U.S. navy in the philippines during that time U.S. navy is weak compare to Japan who has the experienced to sink russian ship an excellent record of the japanese navy

[materkung]

thumbs up when you're watching this in the middle of nowhere.. haha.

pinoy din ako, and my grandfather has been a part of WW2 in the northern Philippines.

[andrelebaron]

@palehorse2032 The study, which surveyed 510 young Americans from December 17 to January 20, showed that 88 percent of those questioned could not find Afghanistan on a map of Asia despite widespread coverage of the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban in 2001 and the political rebirth of the country.

In the Middle East, 63 percent could not find Iraq or Saudi Arabia on a map, and 75 percent could not point out Iran or Israel. Forty-four percent couldn't find any one of those four countries.

[andrelebaron]

100 million people and he calls it the middle of no where. 

[TheRiczKie]

Im proud to be a Filipino

[warpedcomedy]

Remember when the History Channel used to be be good? Sigh.