(01) Victory at Sea: The Battle for Leyte Gulf 1 of 3

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Victory at Sea The Battle for Leyte Gulf
Release Date: March 15, 1953 ... (Episode #19)


Episode # 19. Leyte Gulf is where the war's largest naval battle took place in late October 1944. The American fleet, including both the Seventh Fleet under General MacArthur was responsible for the invasion in central Philippines and the Third Fleet headed by Admiral Nimitz. The Third Fleet's main objective was to protect the landing forces in and around Leyte Gulf. This responsibility to protect the invasion forces was given to Admiral "Bull" Halsey. The Japanese had no choice but to try to stop the Americans by meeting them head on before the invasion would begin. The Imperial Navy would split their attacking forces into three separate groups with the northern group being a diversionary force for the two main forces in the south and central. The two southern forces would try to surprise Halsey by going through the Surigao Strait. Over 132,000 troops, 200,000 tons of material on 750 transports and landing crafts were poised to land on the island of Leyte. The ultimate goal is the complete liberation of the Philippines. The Third Fleet boasted nearly a dozen aircraft carriers and six battle wagons, including four raised from the depths of Pearl Harbor: West Virginia, Maryland, California and Tennessee along with two of the newest and fastest in the world: USS New Jersey and the Iowa. The massive fleet under Halsey would sit off the coast of Samar. The two Japanese southern forces would split into two, with the main force traveling through the San Bernardino Strait in central part and was headed by five battleships (including the Yamato and Musashi), twelve cruisers and fifteen destroyers. The smaller southern force would try to sneak through Surigao Strait to attempt a surprise attack upon the Seventh Fleet. All three Japanese forces were soundly defeated with thousands of casualties. In just 4 days of fighting, the Japanese lost 3 battleships, 1 large carrier, 3 light carriers, 6 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 9 destroyers. Japan ceases to be a naval power. In fact, the battleship Musashi is the first battleship ever to be sunk entirely by airplanes. At midnight of the 25th, the biggest battle occurred off the coast of Samar as the Japanese southern forces met the Seventh Fleet head on. The Americans poured salvo upon salvo on the unsuspecting Japanese forces in the Surigao Strait. Well over 5,000 Japanese sailors are lost in the battle. Even the survivors refused rescue and the southern force is destroyed almost entirely. The main force led by the Yamato, the largest battleship ever, tried in vain to defeat the American navy but also failed, as 100's of American carrier planes would pummel the Japanese naval forces as they really had no planes left since the great Marianas Turkey Shoot, thus ending any hope that Japan would be able to save the Philippines. It is just a matter of time now when Japan will be forced to end the war and surrender. World War II Victory at Sea Leyte Gulf MacArthur Nimitz Halsey Pearl Harbor Yamato Japanese American Americans Carrier

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[gg718707753]

Thanks for adding this great video series. My father, John Gregg was on the USS Bennion DD662 which was in this battle as well as the battle of Surigao Straits. He's 86 now and has alzheimers but still talks of his WWII days.

[2bn442RCT]

Welcome. I will post "The Last of the Tin Can Sailors" soon

[bobbycv64]

The first time I knew about the battle, "The largest naval battle in history" was on Battle 360. Thank You Enterprise :-)

Captain Earnest E Evans - NOW THAT'S A HERO and the USS Johnston.

So many things happened and whoever you are, thank your Father John Gregg, he and the rest of our WW2 ancestors are truly "THE GREATEST GENERATION".

[2bn442RCT]

@bobbycv64 Yes he is and was awarded the CMH. I did not care for Battle 360.

[afmmd]

..My DAd fought in Bataan and then with the resistance..before he died..he finally was granted US citizenship..He always tell us the stories of how relieve they were when the Americans came back..Please say thank you to your Dad..and to all his comrades..that,s coming from a Filipino like me and my late father..

[fenrar36]

1 Kamikaze pilot crashed his plane into the dislike button

[BonJoviSuperFan2]

Philippines has 2 World Records in WW2 history.. one is Battle Of the Philippine Sea is the Largest Aircraft Carrier Battle in History, and Battle Of Leyte Gulf is the Largest Naval Battle in History. Thats why, When Topics About War, People Remember What Happend In Philippines.. I LOVE MY COUNTRY!

[Djraj10]

I'm lucky my GrandParents were born after WWII

[fushheads]

@gg718707753 Your dad is a living piece of history. The last battle fought between battleships was the Surigao strait. And the destroyers of that task force made a highly effective torpedo run. Of course I'm sure your dad has told you this. Thank him for us.

[FrihetKriger]

@gg718707753 God Bless him!

[IIJasonSII]

@gg718707753 My grandfather was on DD649. Tell him thanks for serving!

[thedragonwolfgirl]

i had to watch tis 4 school... it was pretty cool