Leyte Gulf order of battle

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IJ Combined Fleet and US Pacific Fleet Commanders

Adm. Soemu Toyoda (HQ at Yokohama)

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz (HQ at Pearl Harbor)

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.

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, 3 destroyers

• 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. ISBN 978-0-253-35242-2.)

Vice Adm. Shoji Nishimura (KIA)

Battleship Fuso

Heavy cruiser Mogami

Destroyer Shigure, sole survivor of Nishimura's force

Japanese Forces[]

Southern Force
Vice Admiral Shōji Nishimura in battleship Yamashiro (killed during battle)

Force C (sortied from Brunei Bay 22 Oct)

Vice Adm. Nishimura (KIA)

Battleship Division 2 (Vice Adm. Nishimura – KIA)

2 old battleships

• Fuso (12 x 14-in. main battery) (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct)
• Yamashiro (12 x 14-in. main battery) (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct)

1 heavy cruiser

• Mogami (10 x 8-in. main battery) (damaged by gunfire and air attacks, scuttled 25 Oct)

Destroyer Division 4 (Capt. K. Takahashi)

4 destroyers

• 3 Asashio-class (6 x 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 (5 x 5-in. main battery): Shigure

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 heavy cruisers

• Nachi (10 x 8-in. main battery)
• Ashigara (10 x 8-in. main battery)

Destroyer Squadron 1 (Rear Adm. Masatomi Kimura)

1 light cruiser

• Abukuma (7 x 5.5-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 26 Oct)

4 destroyers

• 2 Fubuki-class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Akebono, Ushio
• 1 Asashio-class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Kasumi
• 1 Kagero-class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Shiranuhi (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 Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid in amphibious command ship Wasatch

Task Force 77 (Central Philippines Attack Force

Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid

Task Group 77.2 (Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf in heavy cruiser Louisville)

Task Unit 77.2.2 Left Flank (Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf)

3 heavy cruisers

• Louisville (9 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. S.H. Hurt)
• Portland (9 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. Thomas G. W. Settle)
• Minneapolis (9 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. H.B. Slocum)

2 light cruisers

• Denver (12 x 6-in. main battery) (Capt. A.M. Bledsoe)
• Columbia (12 x 6-in. main battery) (Capt. Maurice E. Curts)

Destroyer Squadron 56 (Capt. Roland N. Smoot)

• 9 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Newcomb, Richard P. Leary, Albert W. Grant,^[b] Robinson, Halford, Bryant, Heywood L. Edwards, Bennion, Leutze

Task Unit 77.2.1 (Battle Line) (Rear Adm. George L. Weyler in battleship Mississippi)

6 battleships

• West Virginia (8 x 16-in. main battery) (Capt. )
• Maryland (8 x 16-in. main battery) (Capt. Herbert J. Ray)
• California (12 x 14-in. main battery) (Capt. H.P. Burnett)
• Tennessee (12 x 14-in. main battery) (Capt. J.B. Heffernan)
• Mississippi (12 x 14-in. main battery) (Capt. H.J. Redfield)
• Pennsylvania (12 x 14-in. main battery) (Capt. C.F. Martin)

6 destroyers

• 4 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Sigourney, Claxton, Aulick, Cony
• 2 Gleaves-class (4 x 5-in. main battery): Thorn, Welles

Task Group 77.3 (Right Flank) (Rear Adm. Russell S. Berkey in light cruiser Phoenix)

1 heavy cruiser

• HMAS Shropshire (8 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. C.A.G. Nichols, RN)

2 light cruisers

• Phoenix (15 x 6-in. main battery) (Capt. J.H. Duncan)
• Boise (15 x 6-in. main battery) (Capt. J.S. Roberts)

6 destroyers

• 5 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Hutchins, Bache, Beale, Daly, Killen
• 1 Tribal-class (8 x 4.7-in. main battery): HMAS Arunta

Picket Patrol

Destroyer Squadron 54 (Capt. J.G. Coward)

Destroyer Division 107

• 2 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Remey, Monssen

Destroyer Division 108

• 3 Fletcher-class (5 x 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[]

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 x 18-in. main battery)
• Nagato (8 x 16-in. main battery)

Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita)

1 heavy cruiser

• Chokai (10 x 8-in. main battery) (scuttled 25 Oct)

Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Shintaro Hashimoto)

1 heavy cruiser

• Haguro (10 x 8-in. main battery)

Destroyer Squadron 2 (Rear Adm. Mikio Hayakawa)

1 light cruiser

• Noshiro (6 x 6.1-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 26 Oct)

9 destroyers

• 8 Yugumo-class (6 x 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 (6 x 5-in. main battery)

2nd Section

Vice Admiral Yoshio Suzuki

Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Suzuki)

2 battlecruisers

• Kongo (8 x 14-in. main battery)
• Haruna (8 x 14-in. main battery)

Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraishi)

4 heavy cruisers

• Kumano (10 x 8-in. main battery)
• Suzuya (10 x 8-in. main battery) (sunk by air attack 25 Oct)
• Chikuma (8 x 8-in. main battery) (sunk/scuttled 25 Oct)
• Tone (8 x 8-in. main battery)

Destroyer Squadron 10 (Rear Adm. Susumu Kimura)

1 light cruiser

• Yahagi (6 x 6.1-in. main battery)

6 destroyers

• 5 Kagero-class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Hamakaze, Isokaze, Nowaki (sunk by air attack 26 Oct), Urakaze, Yukikaze
• 1 Yugumo-class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Kiyoshimo

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 Group 77.4 (Escort Carrier Group)

Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague

Task Group 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 x 5-in. main battery): Hoel (sunk 0855 hrs.), Heermann, Johnston (sunk 1010 hrs.)
• 4 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 x 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 Group 77.4.2 ("Taffy 2")

Rear Adm. 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 x 5-in. main battery): Haggard, Franks, Hailey
• 5 John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts (2 x 5-in. main battery): Richard W. Suesens, Abercrombie, Oberrender, LeRay Wilson, Walter C. Wann

25 Oct – 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 24 Oct)

3 light carriers

• Zuiho (sunk by air attack 25 Oct)
• Chitose (sunk by air attack, gunfire and torpedoes 25 Oct)
• Chiyoda (sunk by air attack, gunfire and torpedoes 25 Oct)

Combined air group

• 80 Mitsubishi A6M2 'Zeke' fighters
• 7 Yokosuka D4Y1 'Judy' dive bombers
• 25 Nakajima B6N 'Jill' torpedo bombers
• 4 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers

Carrier Division 4 (Rear Adm. Chiaki Matsuda)

• 2 hybrid battleship carriers: Ise, Hyuga
• Combined air group for this operation: none

Screen

1 light cruiser

• Isuzu (7 x 5.5-in. main battery)

8 destroyers

• 4 Akizuki-class (6 x 3.9-in. main battery): Akizuki (sunk by air attack 25 Oct), Hatsuzuki (sunk by gunfire 25 Oct), Shimotsuki, Wakatsuki
• 4 Matsu-class (3 x 5-in. main battery): Kiri, Kuwa, Maki, Sugi

2 light cruisers

• Tama (7 x 5.5-in. main battery) (sunk by submarine 25 Oct)
• Ōyodo (6 x 6.1-in. main battery)

Supply Unit

• 2 oilers: Jinei Maru (sunk), Takane Maru
• 1 destroyer: Akikaze (4 x 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 battleships

USS New Jersey

USS Iowa

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 carriers

USS Langley

2 battleships

USS Massachusetts

USS South Dakota

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 battleships

USS Washington

USS Alabama

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 battleships

USS Washington

USS Alabama

USS Massachusetts

USS South Dakota

USS New Jersey

USS Iowa

2 heavy cruisers

USS New Orleans

USS Wichita

5 light cruisers

USS Santa Fe

USS Mobile

USS Biloxi

USS Vincennes

USS Miami

18 destroyers

Notes[]

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.