(12/12) Battlefield I The Battle of Leyte Gulf Episode 8 (GDH)

Videos Running Time 01:55:00 in 12 Parts
Battlefield I The Battle of Leyte Gulf Episode 7 (GDH)
This episode of "Battlefield" chronicles The U.S. Navys triumph over the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) at Leyte Gulf.

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)




Enjoy this excellent episode of Battlefield. (GDH)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• WorldWarII
• WorldWarTwo
• Leyte
• Gulf
• Philippines
• Mac
• Arthur
• Halsey
• battlefield
• Aircraft
• Carrier
• USN
• U.S.
• Navy
• IJN
• Japanese
• American

[Treetop64]

Indeed, almost sympathetic. To be fair, Halsey could not have known that Ozawa's force was only a decoy, but at the same time he could have left something behind to protect the landing and it is surprising that he left them completely naked.

Knowing there was still a Japanese force west of the Surigao straits it beggars the mind on why he didn't leave the surface ships there to guard it. I mean, how much could they have accomplished in the upcoming carrier action that Halsey was chasing?

[HoustonGD]

Well one of the problems leaving behind TF34 is air cover. Halsey would have to deploy one of his carrier groups to protect it. And with another carrier group detached for refueling 2 out of the 4 carrier groups missing made TF38 less effective. Anyways, that was Halsey's thinking .

[evilk667]

Battlefield I is the best series here on YT. Period.

[sophiallen92]

The series is far less critical of Halsey's maneuvre than Americans seem to be. He did after all leave the landings at the mercy of a large Japanese force. It was mere luck that Kurita turned away. The alternative would have been a disaster. Halsey's aggression neared reccklessness. then again, this is the normal Fog of War. In this episode, it worked out to the Americans favor.

[dlmaniac]

Halsey should have been demoted for his incompetence.

[6fletcher]

so sorry ! i made a mistake ! the convoy is the PQ 17 , not PQ 8 ! if you have videos about this convoy , attacked by luftwaffe and kriegsmarine , send me , please !

[sol3a1]

Halsey was great at the beginning of the war but his myopic POV meant the war just became too big for him

Halsey's Picture is list under the dictionary term of "promote to one's level of incompetence"

Many good men, including Cmdr Evans, died on the altar of Halsey's ego. His complete fiasco off of Samar should've had him "promoted stateside" but his actions during the Typhoon should've had him in front of a courtsmartial for being an IJN saboteur

[cdsilber]

Taking it even a step further, author Kenneth Friedman argues that if Halsey had left a single destroyer guarding San Bernadino Strait they would have at least sighted Kurita's Center Force and provided ample warning to the Taffy task groups. Instead Sprague didn't know of the Japanese threat until it was right on top of his escort carriers.

[suspicious35]

@sophiallen92 not luck it was the counter attack by taffy 3 that made Kurita think he was outnumbered

[lillyf40]

The DE Samuel B. Roberts, voluntarily followed the DD Johnston into battle and by her presence with the 3 Fletcher class destroyers, contributed to the confusion of the Japanese command. Testimony by surviving flag officers in the Imperial Navy indicate that the light rain and overcast caused them to believe they were being attacked by 3 U.S. Crusiers and 1 Fletcher Class Destroyer. I believe that the "DE that fought like a battleship" was also instrumental in Kurita's withdrawal.

[IMNODOCTOR]

Had Ozawa's ships continued on their journey to enter Leyte Gulf without air cover, the fleet will eventually be destroyed; it won't change the outcome of the war. Granted, they can sink several US ships but his fleet won't make it alive considering the might of US air and naval power deployed in the area.

[7511232]

Where can I find the video of 2:46 ?

[fuhmeregan]

long live the memory of one tough handsome American Indian, Cmdr Ernest E Evans - HE WOULD INSTANTLY AND VERY MUCH DID GIVE ALL TO PROTECT THOSE KIDS LEFT UNPROTECTED ON THE BEACHHEAD.

[fuhmeregan]

The operation was two -part: 1. Destroy Jap naval power, 2. AS important 1. - LAND THE INVASION TROOPS. ****That the 180,000ish troops landed on the beachhead were NOT protected is IDIOTIC. I can see the brass being lambasted by THEIR high-ups, after. Here is to the USS JOHNSTON - EVANS SCARING AWAY PANSY-ASS KURITA. Long live t