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 oiler USN: 2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 destroyer escort The light aircraft carrier 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 )
Japanese Forces Southern Force ('Force C') 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 , Yamashiro 1 Mogami-class heavy cruiser (6 × 8-in. main battery) Mogami Destroyer Division 4 (Capt. Kameshirou Takahashi) (KIA) 3 Asashio-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery) Michishio , Yamagumo , Asagumo 1 Shiratsuyu-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery) Shigure
Second Striking Force (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 4 destroyers 2 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
American Forces
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 , 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 cruiser 1 County-class (8 × 8-in. main battery) Shropshire (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, RN) 2 light cruisers Both Brooklyn-class (15 × 6-in. main battery) Phoenix (Capt. J.H. Duncan) Boise (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 107 2 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery) Remey, Monssen Destroyer Division 108 3 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
Centre Force ('Force A') (sortied from Brunei Bay 22 Oct) 1st Section ('Force A') Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita Battleship Division 1 (Vice Adm. Matome Ugaki) 2 battleships Yamato (9 × 18-in. main battery) Nagato (8 × 16-in. main battery) Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita) 1 heavy cruiser Chōkai (10 × 8-in. main battery) Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Shintaro Hashimoto) 1 heavy cruiser Haguro (10 × 8-in. main battery) Destroyer Squadron 2 (Rear Adm. Mikio Hayakawa) 1 light cruiser Noshiro (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) 9 destroyers 8 Yugumo-class (6 × 5-in. main battery) Akishimo, Asashimo, Fujinami , Hamanami, Hayashimo , Kishinami, Okinami, Naganami 1 Shimakaze (experimental destroyer type with 15 torpedo tubes) Shimakaze (6 × 5-in. main battery)
2nd Section ('Force B') Vice Admiral Yoshio Suzuki Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Suzuki) 2 battleships Kongō (8 × 14-in. main battery) Haruna (8 × 14-in. main battery) Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraishi) 4 heavy cruisers Kumano (10 × 8-in. main battery) Suzuya (10 × 8-in. main battery) Chikuma (8 × 8-in. main battery) Tone (8 × 8-in. main battery) Destroyer Squadron 10 (Rear Adm. Susumu Kimura) 1 light cruiser Yahagi (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) 6 destroyers 5 Kagero-class (6 × 5-in. main battery) Hamakaze, Isokaze, Nowaki , 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
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 77.4.1 ("Taffy 1") (Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague) 6 escort carriers Sangamon (Captain M.E. Browder) Air Group 37 (Lt. Commander S.E. Hindman) Suwannee (Captain W.D. Johnson) Air Group 60 (Lt. Commander H.O. Feilbach USNR) Chenango (Captain George Van Deurs) Air Group 35 (Lt. Commander F.T. Moore) Santee (Captain R.E. Blick) Air Group 26 (Lt. Commander H.N Funk) Saginaw Bay (Captain F.C. Sutton) Composite Squadron 78(Lt. Commander J.L. Hyde) Petrof Bay (Captain J.L. Kane ) Composite Squadron 76(Commander J.W. McCauley) 3 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery) McCord, Hazelwood, Trathen 4 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery) Richard S. Bull, Eversole, Richard M. Rowell, Coolbaugh
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) 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) 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 , Heermann, Johnston 4 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery) Dennis, John C. Butler, Raymond, Samuel B. Roberts
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
Japanese Forces Northern Force ('Main Body') (sortied from Japanese Home Islands 20 Oct) Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa
Carrier Division 3 (Vice Adm. Jisaburo Ozawa and Rear Adm. Sueo Obayashi) 1 fleet carrier Zuikaku 3 light carriers Zuihō Chitose Chiyoda Combined air group 39 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 (Rear Adm. Heitaro Edo) 1 light cruiser Isuzu (7 × 5.5-in. main battery) 8 destroyers 4 Akizuki-class (8 × 3.9-in. main battery) Akizuki , Hatsuzuki , Shimotsuki, Wakatsuki 4 Matsu-class (3 × 5-in. main battery) Kiri, Kuwa, Maki, Sugi 2 light cruisers Tama (7 × 5.5-in. main battery) Ōyodo (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) Supply Unit 2 oilers: Jinei Maru , 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 )
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
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