Leyte Gulf order of battle
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The ). 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 USS Princeton 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 Tully, Anthony (2009). Battle of Surigao Strait. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.
Japanese Forces
Southern Force
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 (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct), Yamashiro(sunk by gunfire 25 Oct)
- 1 Mogami-class heavy cruiser (6 × 8-in. main battery)
- Mogami (damaged by gunfire and air attacks, scuttled 25 Oct)
- 2 Fusō-class old battleships (12 × 14-in. main battery)
- Destroyer Division 4 (Capt. K. Takahashi)
- Battleship Division 2 (Vice Adm. Nishimura – KIA)
- Second Striking Force[a] (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)
- Destroyer Squadron 1 (Rear Adm. Masatomi Kimura)
- Cruiser Division 21 (Vice Admiral Shima)
American Forces
Seventh Fleet
Vice Admiral
- 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)
- 1 Northampton-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)
- 2 light cruisers
- Both Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery)
- Denver (Capt. Albert M. Bledsoe)
- Columbia (Capt. Maurice E. Curts)
- Both Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery)
- Destroyer Squadron 56 (Capt. Roland N. Smoot)
- 9 Fletcher-classdestroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery)
- Leutze
- 9
- 3 heavy cruisers
- 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)
- 2 Colorado-class (8 × 16-in. main battery)
- 6 destroyers
- 6 old battleships
- 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)
-
- 1 County-class (8 × 8-in. main battery)
- 2 light cruisers
- Both Brooklyn-class
- Destroyer Squadron 24 (Capt. Kenmore M. McManes)
- 1 heavy cruiser
- 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
- 18 motor torpedo boats (MTB)
- Task Group 70.1 Motor Torpedo Boats
25 Oct – Battle off Samar
Japanese Forces
Centre Force ('Force A') (sortied from Brunei Bay 22 Oct)
- 1st Section
- Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita
- Battleship Division 1 (Vice Adm. Matome Ugaki)
- Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita)
- 1 heavy cruiser
- Chōkai(10 × 8-in. main battery) (scuttled 25 Oct)
- 1 heavy cruiser
- Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Shintaro Hashimoto)
- 1 heavy cruiser
- Haguro (10 × 8-in. main battery)
- 1 heavy cruiser
- Destroyer Squadron 2 (Rear Adm. Mikio Hayakawa)
- 1 light cruiser
- Noshiro (6 × 6.1-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 26 Oct)
- 9 destroyers
- 1 light cruiser
- 2nd Section
- Vice Admiral Yoshio Suzuki
- Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Suzuki)
- 2 battleships
- Kongō(8 × 14-in. main battery)
- Haruna (8 × 14-in. main battery)
- 2 battleships
- Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraishi)
- Destroyer Squadron 10 (Rear Adm. Susumu Kimura)
- Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Suzuki)
American Forces
Seventh Fleet
Vice Admiral
- Task Force 77 (Central Philippines Attack Force)
- Vice Admiral Kinkaid
- Task Group 77.4 (Escort Carrier Group)
- Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague
- Task Unit 77.4.3 ("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 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 68 (Lt. Cmdr. R.S. Rogers)
- St. Lo(Capt. F.J. McKenna) (sunk 1125 hrs.)
- Composite Squadron 65 (Lt. Cmdr. R.M. Jones)
- 17 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 17
- Composite Squadron 65 (Lt. Cmdr. R.M. Jones)
- White Plains (Capt. D.J. Sullivan)
- Composite Squadron 4 (Lt. E.R. Fickenscher)
- 16 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 4 (Lt. E.R. Fickenscher)
- Kalinin Bay(Capt. T.B. Williamson)
- Composite Squadron 3 (Lt. W.H. Keighley)
- 16 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 1 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 3 (Lt. W.H. Keighley)
- Carrier Division 26 (Rear Adm. Ralph A. Ofstie)
- Kitkun Bay(Capt. J.P. Whitney)
- Composite Squadron 5 (Cmdr. R.L. Fowler)
- 14 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 14
- Composite Squadron 5 (Cmdr. R.L. Fowler)
- Gambier Bay(Capt. W.V.R. Vieweg) (sunk 0907 hrs.)
- Composite Squadron 10 (Lt. Cmdr. E.J. Huxtable)
- 18 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 18
- Composite Squadron 10 (Lt. Cmdr. E.J. Huxtable)
- Screen
- 3 Fletcher-classdestroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery)
- Heermann, Johnston(sunk 1010 hrs.)
- 4 John C. Butler-classdestroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery)
- Dennis, John C. Butler, Raymond, Samuel B. Roberts (sunk 1005 hrs.)
- 3
- 6 escort carriers
- 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 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 81 (Lt. Cmdr. R.C. Barnes)
- Manila Bay (Capt. Fitzhugh Lee, III)
- Composite Squadron 80 (Lt. Cmdr. H.K. Stubbs)
- 16 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 80 (Lt. Cmdr. H.K. Stubbs)
- 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 Wildcatfighters
- 11 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 12
- Composite Squadron 21 (Lt. Cmdr T.O. Murray)
- Kadashan Bay(Capt. R.N. Hunter)
- Composite Squadron 20 (Lt. Cmdr. J.R. Dale)
- 15 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 11 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 15
- Composite Squadron 20 (Lt. Cmdr. J.R. Dale)
- Savo Island(Capt. C.E. Ekstrom)
- Composite Squadron 27 (Lt. Cmdr. P.W. Jackson)
- 16 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 12 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 27 (Lt. Cmdr. P.W. Jackson)
- Ommaney Bay(Capt. H.L. Young)
- Composite Squadron 75 (Lt. Cmdr. A.W. Smith)
- 16 FM-2 Wildcatfighters
- 11 TBM Avengertorpedo bombers
- 16
- Composite Squadron 75 (Lt. Cmdr. A.W. Smith)
- Screen
- 3 Fletcher-classdestroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery)
- Hailey
- 5 John C. Butler-classdestroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery)
- 3
- 6 escort carriers
25 - 26 Oct – Battle off Cape Engaño
Japanese Forces
Northern Force ('Main Body') (sortied from Japanese Home Islands 20 Oct)
Vice Admiral
- Carrier Division 3 (Vice Adm. Ozawa)
- 1 fleet carrier
- Zuikaku (sunk by air attack 25 Oct)
- 3 light carriers
- Zuihō(sunk by air attack 26 Oct)
- Chitose (sunk by air attack, gunfire and torpedoes 26 Oct)
- Chiyoda (sunk by air attack, gunfire and torpedoes 26 Oct)
- 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
- Combined air group
- 1 fleet carrier
- 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
- 2 hybrid battleship carriers
- Screen
- 1 light cruiser
- Isuzu (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)
- 8 destroyers
- 2 light cruisers
- 1 light cruiser
- Supply Unit
American Forces
(according to [1])
Third Fleet
Admiral
- 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
- 2 light carriers
- 2 fast battleships
- Both Iowa-class (9 × 16-in./50-cal. main battery)
- 3 light cruisers
- 16 destroyers
- Task Group 38.3 (Task Group Three)
- Rear Adm. Frederick C. Sherman
- 2 fleet carriers
- 1 light carrier
- 2 fast battleships
- Both South Dakota-class (9 × 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
- 3 light cruisers
- 10 destroyers
- Task Group 38.4 (Task Group Four)
- Rear Adm. Ralph E. Davison
- 2 fleet carriers
- 2 light carriers
- 2 fast battleships
- 1 North Carolina-class (9 × 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
- 1 South Dakota-class (9 × 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
- 2 heavy cruisers
- 15 destroyers
Notes
- ^ Shima arrived in Surigao Strait after the devastation of Force C. Unable to make contact with Nishimura, who was dead by that time, Shima made a perfunctory attack and retired. "Shima had unusual discretion for a Japanese admiral." (Morison 1958, p. 233)
References
- Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). Leyte, June 1944–January 1945. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. XII. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-7858-1313-6.
- ^ UNITED STATES FLEET HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF (1945). BATTLE EXPERIENCE BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF. NAVY DEPARTMENT Washington DC. p. 78-7. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "No battle damage was incurred, nor inflicted on the enemy by vessels while operating as Task Force THIRTY-FOUR." https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/rep/Leyte/TF-34-Leyte.html