Leyte Gulf order of battle

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.

US Seventh and Third Fleet Commanders
Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.

IJ Combined Fleet and US Pacific Fleet Commanders
Adm. Soemu Toyoda (HQ at Yokohama)
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz (HQ at Pearl Harbor)

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
Main article: Battle of Surigao Strait

(according to Tully, Anthony (2009). Battle of Surigao Strait. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-35242-2.)

Vice Adm. Shoji Nishimura (KIA)
Battleship Fusō
Heavy cruiser Mogami
Destroyer Shigure, sole survivor of Nishimura's force

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 old battleships
Fusō (12 × 14-in. main battery) (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct)
Yamashiro (12 × 14-in. main battery) (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct)
1 heavy cruiser
Mogami (6 × 8-in. main battery) (damaged by gunfire and air attacks, scuttled 25 Oct)
Destroyer Division 4 (Capt. K. Takahashi)
3 Asashio-class destroyers (6 × 5-in. main battery)
Michishio (sunk by torpedo and gunfire 25 Oct), Yamagumo (sunk by torpedo 25 Oct), Asagumo (sunk by torpedo and gunfire 25 Oct)
1 Shiratsuyu-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery)
Shigure
Second Striking Force[lower-alpha 1] (sortied from Pescadores, Formosa 22 Oct)
Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima in heavy cruiser Nachi
Cruiser Division 21 (Vice Admiral Shima)
2 heavy cruisers
Nachi (10 × 8-in. main battery)
Ashigara (10 × 8-in. main battery)
Destroyer Squadron 1 (Rear Adm. Masatomi Kimura)
1 light cruiser
Abukuma (7 × 5.5-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 26 Oct)
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 (sunk by air attack 27 Oct)

American Forces
Task Force 77 and Surigao Strait Commanders
Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid
Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf
Light cruiser Denver
Battleship Tennessee after modernization

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 x 8in. 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. A.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 (damaged by friendly fire), 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
Phoenix (15 × 6-in. main battery) (Capt. J.H. Duncan)
Boise (15 × 6-in. main battery) (Capt. J.S. Roberts)
6 destroyers
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. J.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
Main article: Battle off Samar

Japanese Forces
Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita
American submarine photo of Kurita's Center Force departing Brunei Bay
Heavy cruiser Chikuma

Centre Force ('Force A') (sortied from Brunei Bay 22 Oct)

1st Section
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) (scuttled 25 Oct)
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) (sunk by air attack 26 Oct)
9 destroyers
8 Yugumo-class (6 × 5-in. main battery)
Akishimo, Asashimo, Fujinami (sunk by air attack 27 Oct), Hamanami, Hayashimo (sunk by air attack 26 Oct), Kishinami, Okinami, Naganami
1 Shimakaze (experimental destroyer type with 15 torpedo tubes)
Shimakaze (6 × 5-in. main battery)
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)
Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraishi)
4 heavy cruisers
Kumano (10 × 8-in. main battery)
Suzuya (10 × 8-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 25 Oct)
Chikuma (8 × 8-in. main battery) (sunk/scuttled 25 Oct)
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 (sunk by air attack 26 Oct), 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
Escort Carrier and Taffy 3 Commanders
Rear Adm. Thomas L. Sprague
Rear Adm. Clifton A.F. Sprague
Escort carrier Gambier Bay
Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter
Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber

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 77.4.3 ("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) (sunk 1125 hrs.)
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) (sunk 0907 hrs.)
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 (sunk 0855 hrs.), Heermann, Johnston (sunk 1010 hrs.)
4 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 × 5-in. main battery)
Dennis, John C. Butler, Raymond, Samuel B. Roberts (sunk 1005 hrs.)
Taffy 2 Commander
Rear Adm. Felix B. Stump
Fletcher-class destroyer
John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
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
Main article: Battle off Cape Engaño
Vice Adm. Jisaburo Ozawa
Fleet carrier Zuikaku
Battleship Ise after conversion to hybrid aircraft carrier
Light cruiser Isuzu

Japanese Forces

Northern Force ('Main Body') (sortied from Japanese Home Islands 20 Oct)
Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa

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
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
1 light cruiser
Isuzu (7 × 5.5-in. main battery)
8 destroyers
4 Akizuki-class (6 × 3.9-in. main battery)
Akizuki (sunk by air attack 25 Oct), Hatsuzuki (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct), Shimotsuki, Wakatsuki
4 Matsu-class (3 × 5-in. main battery)
Kiri, Kuwa, Maki, Sugi
2 light cruisers
Tama (7 × 5.5-in. main battery) (sunk by submarine 25 Oct)
Ōyodo (6 × 6.1-in. main battery)
Supply Unit
2 oilers: Jinei Maru (sunk), 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
Task Force 38 and Task Group Commanders
Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher
Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan
Rear Adm. Frederick C. Sherman
Rear Adm. Ralph E. Davison

(according to [1])

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
USS Intrepid
2 light carriers
USS Cabot
USS Independence
2 fast battleships
2 Iowa-class
Iowa (9 x 16-in./50-cal. main battery)
New Jersey (9 x 16-in./50-cal. main battery)
3 light cruisers
USS Biloxi
USS Vincennes
USS Miami
16 destroyers
Portside view of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9), 1944.
Task Group 38.3 enters Ulithi led by USS Langley (CVL-27), 1944.
Task Group 38.3 (Task Group Three)
Rear Adm. Frederick C. Sherman
2 fleet carriers
USS Essex
USS Lexington
1 light carrier
USS Langley
2 fast battleships
2 South Dakota class
South Dakota (9 x 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
Massachusetts (9 x 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
3 light cruisers
USS Santa Fe
USS Mobile
USS Reno
10 destroyers
Task Group 38.4 (Task Group Four)
Rear Adm. Ralph E. Davison
2 fleet carriers
USS Franklin
USS Enterprise
2 light carriers
USS San Jacinto
USS Belleau Wood
2 fast battleships
1 North Carolina class
Washington (9 x 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
1 South Dakota class
Alabama (9 x 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
2 heavy cruisers
USS New Orleans
USS Wichita
15 destroyers
Vice Adm. Willis A. Lee
Task Force 34 (formed at 02:40 on 25 October, dissolved at 10:55 on 25 October)[2]
Vice Adm. Willis A. Lee
6 fast battleships
2 heavy cruisers
New Orleans
Wichita
5 light cruisers
Santa Fe
Mobile
Biloxi
Vincennes
Miami
18 destroyers

Notes
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  2. "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
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