October 23rd through October 26th in 1944. Sixty-five years ago this weekend, the greatest naval battle in history took place in the Pacific ocean. The Allies, led by the United States Navy successfully fought the Japanese Navy.
This pic is from October 20, 1944 when, courtesy of ADM Halsey's 3rd Fleet & ADM Kincaid's 7th Fleet, GEN MacArthur lands at Leyte Island.
The Japanese commenceSho-Go (Victory Operation). The fleets of Admirals Nishimura, Kurita, Ozawa and Shima come at the Allies with their last ditch effort to defeat us or die honorably.
What happens between October 23rd and October 26th is the most incredible display of American determination, ingenuity and courage.
Lieutenant Commander Robert Copeland, skipper of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413), addressed his crew October 25, 1944 "This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can."
A great recap is Episode 19 of Victory at Sea as @deremilitari pointed out to me on Twitter.
Other great posts -
From EagleSpeak's archives
The Battle of Leyte Gulf: 23-26 October 1944
From SteelJaw Scribe
65th Anniversary of Leyte Gulf
From ChaoticSynapticActivity's archives
Thursday Maritime Matters: Special Edition
/r GODNAVBLOGSTRIFOR
This pic is from October 20, 1944 when, courtesy of ADM Halsey's 3rd Fleet & ADM Kincaid's 7th Fleet, GEN MacArthur lands at Leyte Island.
The Japanese commenceSho-Go (Victory Operation). The fleets of Admirals Nishimura, Kurita, Ozawa and Shima come at the Allies with their last ditch effort to defeat us or die honorably.
What happens between October 23rd and October 26th is the most incredible display of American determination, ingenuity and courage.
Lieutenant Commander Robert Copeland, skipper of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413), addressed his crew October 25, 1944 "This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can."
A great recap is Episode 19 of Victory at Sea as @deremilitari pointed out to me on Twitter.
Other great posts -
From EagleSpeak's archives
The Battle of Leyte Gulf: 23-26 October 1944
From SteelJaw Scribe
65th Anniversary of Leyte Gulf
From ChaoticSynapticActivity's archives
Thursday Maritime Matters: Special Edition
/r GODNAVBLOGSTRIFOR
The best book I've ever read about the battle of Leyte gulf and the subsequent naval battles--in fact, probably the best book about the Navy in WWII that I've read--is The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, by James D. Hornfischer. I've read many books about war, and this one is easily near the top in all categories. As the subtitle says, it's an extraordinary story about what is arguably the U.S. Navy's finest hour.
An excellent and fair-handed review can be found here:
www.subsim.com/books/book_last_stand.htm
Two more link
From Chaotic Synaptic Activity today
10/24/1944 "The Last Great Naval Battle"
From Eagle Speak today
Sunday Ship History: "The Battle of Leyte Gulf"
I am in the middle of "Last Stand of the Tin can Sailors". Love it!