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.

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

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)
:::: ''Yamashiro'' (12 × 14-in. main battery)
::: 1 heavy cruiser
:::: ''Mogami'' (6 × 8-in. main battery)
:: Destroyer Division 4 (Capt. K. Takahashi)
::: 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 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)
::: 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
::::: 2 Portland-class (9 × 8-in. main battery)
:::::: ''Louisville'' (Capt. S.H. Hurt)
:::::: ''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'' , ''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

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)
::: 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
: 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, 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 77.4.3 ("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 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. Ozawa)
:: 1 fleet carrier
::: ''Zuikaku''
:: 3 light carriers
::: ''Zuihō''
::: ''Chitose''
::: ''Chiyoda''
:::: 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'' (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'' , ''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
:::: 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

:: 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
::::: ''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
:::: x South Dakota-class
::::: ''Washington'' (9 x 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
::::: ''Alabama'' (9 x 16-in./45-cal. main battery)
::: 2 heavy cruisers
:::: USS ''New Orleans''
:::: USS ''Wichita''
::: 15 destroyers

:: Task Force 34 (formed at 02:40 on 25 October, dissolved at 10:55 on 25 October)"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
:: 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

References

*
{{reflist

Conflicts in 1944
1944 in the Philippines
Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Naval aviation operations and battles
History of Leyte (province)
History of Samar (province)
Naval battles of World War II involving Australia
Naval battles of World War II involving Japan
Naval battles of World War II involving the United States
October 1944 events
Sibuyan Sea
World War II orders of battle