Invasion of Leyte naval order of battle

On 17 October 1944, troops of the United States Sixth Army under the direct command of Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, invaded the Philippine island of Leyte. This operation was the beginning of General Douglas MacArthur's fulfillment of his promise in March 1942 to the Filipino people that he would liberate them from Japanese rule.

For the Battle of Leyte Gulf, see Leyte Gulf order of battle
Theatre and fleet commanders
for the liberation of the Philippines
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid

MacArthur's formal title was Supreme Commander, Allied Forces, Southwest Pacific Area. The amphibious landings were carried out and supported by the United States Seventh Fleet, including 1 British and 11 Australian ships, under the direction of Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid.

Seventh Fleet

In case the Imperial Japanese Navy interfered, additional air cover was provided by the fast carriers of the US Third Fleet under the command of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr..
Third Fleet

US Seventh Fleet
Vice Adm. Kinkaid's flagship Wasatch
Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia passing through the Panama Canal, 1935
Destroyer HMAS Warramunga

Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid in amphibious command ship Wasatch

Central Philippines Attack Force (Task Force 77)

Vice Admiral Kinkaid

1 light cruiser: Nashville
4 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Ammen, Abner Read, Mullany, Bush
Close Covering Group (Task Group 77.3)

Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey

2 heavy cruisers: HMAS Australia, HMAS Shropshire
2 light cruisers: Phoenix, Boise
6 destroyers
4 Fletcher-class: Bache, Beale, Daly, Killen
2 Tribal-class: HMAS Arunta, HMAS Warramunga
Escort Carrier Group (Task Group 77.4)
Taffy 1 Commander
Rear Adm. Thomas L. Sprague
Escort carrier Suwannee

Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague

"Taffy 1"

Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter

Rear Admiral Sprague

6 escort carriers
Sangamon (Capts. M.E. Browder)
Air Group 37 (Lt. Cmdr. S.E. Hindman)
17 F6F Hellcat fighters
  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Suwannee (Capt. W.D. Johnson)
Air Group 60 (Lt. Cmdr. H.O. Feilbach, USNR)
22 F6F Hellcat fighters
  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Chenango (Capts. George van Deurs)
Air Group 35 (Lt. Cmdr. F.T. Moore)
22 F6F Hellcat fighters
  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Santee (Capt. Robert E. Blick)
Air Group 26 (Lt. Cmdr. H.N. Funk)
24 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
  6 TBF Avenger, 3 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Carrier Division 28 (Rear Admiral George R. Henderson)
Saginaw Bay (Capts. F.C. Sutton)
Composite Squadron 78 (Lt. Cmdr. J.L. Hyde, USNR)
15 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Petrof Bay (Capt. J.L. Kane)
Composite Squadron 76 (Lt. Cmdr. J.W. McCauley, USNR)
16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
10 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Screen
3 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): McCord, Trathen, Hazelwood
5 destroyer escorts
4 John C. Butler-class: Edmonds, Richard S. Bull, Richard M. Rowell, Richard S. Bull, Eversole
1 Buckley-class: Coolbaugh
Taffy 2 Commander
Rear Adm. Felix B. Stump

"Taffy 2"

Escort carrier Savo Island
John C. Butler-class destroyer escort

Rear Admiral Felix B. Stump

6 escort carriers
Natoma Bay (Capt. Albert 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, USNR)
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. Clarence 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 (Capt. L.K. Reynolds)
3 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Haggard, Franks, Hailey
5 destroyer escorts (all John C. Butler-class): Richard W. Suesens, Abercrombie, Oberrender, LeRay Wilson, Walter C. Wann
Taffy 3 Commander
Rear Adm. Clifton A.F. Sprague

"Taffy 3"

Escort carrier White Plains
Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber

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. Francis J. McKenna)
Composite Squadron 65 (Lt. Cmdr. R.M. Jones, USMR)
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. Cmdr. W.H. Keighley)
16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
  1 TBF Avenger, 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Carrier Division 26 (Rear Adm. Ralph A. Ofstie)
Kitkun Bay (Capt. John P. Whitney)
Composite Squadron 5 (Cmdr. R.L. Fowler)
14 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Gambier Bay (Capt. Walter V. R. Vieweg)
Composite Squadron 10 (Lt. Cmdr. E.J. Huxtable)
18 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Screen (Cmdr. W.D. Thomas)
3 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Hoel, Heermann, Johnston
4 destroyer escorts (all John C. Butler-class): Dennis, John C. Butler, Raymond, Samuel B. Roberts
Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group (Task Group 77.5)
Auk-class minesweeper
Australian harbour defence motor launch

Commander W.R. Loud

1 frigate: HMAS Gascoyne
1 destroyer transport: Sands
7 fast minesweepers: Hovey, Southard, Chandler, Long, Hamilton, Howard, Palmer
12 minesweepers
7 Auk-class: Token, Tumult, Velocity, Requisite, Pursuit, Revenge, Sage
5 Admirable-class: Salute, Saunter, Scout, Scrimmage, Sentry
2 minelayers: Preble, Breese
26 auxiliary motor minesweepers
1 harbour defence motor launch: 1074
Beach Demolition Group (Task Group 77.6)

Lt. Commander C.C. Morgan, USNR
Embarking Underwater Demolition Teams 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

11 destroyer transports: Talbot, Manley, Goldsborough, Kane, Brooks, Belknap, Overton, Humphreys, Rathburne, George E. Badger, Clemson

Northern Attack Force (Task Force 78)
Amphibious force commander for Northern Landing Area
Rear Adm. Daniel E. Barbey

Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey in amphibious command ship Blue Ridge
 Embarking X Army Corps

Landing ship dock Gunston Hall

Steel-hulled sub chaser
Attack transport James O'Hara
Landing ship tank

Palo Attack Group (Task Group 78.1)
Rear Admiral Barbey
Embarking 24th Infantry ("Taro") Division (Left beaches)

Transport Unit (Capt. T.B. Brittain)
Transport Division 24 (Capt. Brittain)
4 attack transports: DuPage, Fuller, Elmore, Wayne
1 transport: John Land
1 attack cargo ship: Aquarius
1 landing ship dock: Gunston Hall
Transport Division 6 (Capt. H.D. Baker)
3 attack transports: Fayette, Ormsby, Leedstown
1 attack cargo ship: Titania
1 cargo ship: Hercules
2 landing ship docks: Epping Forest, Carter Hall
Screen (Capt. Henry Crommelin)
4 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): John Rodgers, Murray, Harrison, McKee
Control and Close Support Unit (Capt. N.D. Brantly)
4 submarine chasers: 3 steel hull, 1 wooden hull
16 landing craft infantry: 9 standard, 5 rocket, 2 gunboat
3 patrol craft escort
1 frigate
3 landing ships medium
2 fleet tugs: Apache, Quapaw

San Ricardo Attack Group (Task Group 78.2)
Rear Admiral W.M. Fechteler in attack transport Fremont
Embarking 1st Cavalry Division (Right beaches)

Transport Unit (Capt. M.O. Carlson)
Transport Division 32 (Capt. Carlson)
4 attack transports: Harris, Barnstable
1 transport: Herald of the Morning
1 attack cargo ship: Arneb
1 landing ship dock: White Marsh
Transport Division 20 (Capt. D.W. Loomis)
3 attack transports: Leonard Wood, Pierce, James O'Hara
1 transport: La Salle
1 attack cargo ship: Electra
1 landing ship dock: Oak Hill
9 landing ships medium
Screen (Capt. A.E. Jarrell)
4 destroyers
3 Fletcher-class: Fletcher, Jenkins, La Vallette
1 Sims-class: Anderson
1 fleet tug: Sonoma
8 landing craft infantry: 6 rocket, 2 gunboat
14 landing ships tank
Battleship Mississippi
Minelayer HMS Ariadne
Destroyer Stack
Fletcher-class destroyer

Fire Support Unit North
Rear Admiral George L. Weyler

3 old battleships: Mississippi (Capt. H.J. Redfield), Maryland (Capt. H.J. Ray), West Virginia (Capt. H.V. Wiley)
3 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Cony, Aulick, Sigourney

Panaon Attack Group (Task Group 78.3)
Rear Admiral A.D. Struble in Hughes
Embarking 21st Regimental Combat Team / 24th Infantry Division

1 destroyer (Sims-class): Hughes
3 landing ships infantry: HMAS Kanimbla, HMAS Manoora, HMAS Westralia
1 minelayer: HMS Ariadne
4 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Sigsbee, Ringgold, Schroeder, Dashiell

Dinagat Attack Group (Task Group 78.4)
Rear Admiral Struble in Hughes
Embarking 6th Ranger Battalion and Co. B / 21st Infantry

5 destroyer transports: Kilty, Schley, Ward, Herbert, Crosby
1 fleet tug: Chickasaw
2 destroyers (both Benham-class): Lang, Stack
2 frigates: Gallup, Bisbee

Reinforcement Group One (Task Group 78.6)
Captain S.P. Jenkins
Arriving 22 October

6 attack transports: Crescent City, Warren, Windsor, Callaway, Leon, Sumter
1 transport: Storm King
1 cargo ship: Jupiter
1 repair ship: Achilles
4 merchant ships
32 landing ships tank
12 landing craft infantry
Escort (Capt. E.A. Solomons)
4 destroyers
2 destroyers (both Sims-class): Mustin, Morris
2 destroyers (both Fletcher-class: Stevens, Howorth
2 frigates (both Tacoma-class): Carson City, Burlington

Reinforcement Group Two (Task Group 78.7)

Destroyer Drayton
Tacoma-class frigate

Captain J.K.P. Ginder
Arriving 24 October

32 landing ships tank
24 merchant ships
Escort (Capt. Ginder)
4 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Nicholas, O'Bannon, Taylor, Hopewell
2 frigates (both Tacoma-class): Muskogee, San Pedro

Reinforcement Group Three (Task Group 78.9)
Commander J.L. Steinmetz, USCG
Arriving 29 October

62 landing ships tank
19 merchant ships
Escort (Capt. W.M. Cole)
5 destroyers (all Mahan-class): Mahan, Drayton, Lamson, Flusser, Smith
4 frigates (all Tacoma-class): Eugene, El Paso, Van Buren, Orange

Southern Attack Force (Task Force 79)
Amphibious force commander for Southern Landing Area
Vice Adm. Theodore S. Wilkinson
Amphibious command ships
USS Mount Olympus
USS Appalachian

Vice Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson in amphibious command ship Mount Olympus
Embarking XXIV Army Corps

Attack Group "Able" (Task Group 79.1)
Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly in amphibious command ship Appalachian
Embarking 7th Infantry "Bayonet" Division (Left beaches)

Transport Group "Able" (Task Group 79.3)
Capt. C.G. Richardson
Transport Division 7 (Capt. Richardson)
3 attack transports: Cavalier, J. Franklin Bell, Feland
1 transport: Golden City
1 attack cargo ship: Thuban
1 landing ship dock: Lindenwald
Transport Division 30 (Capt. C.A. Mission)
3 attack transports: Knox, Calvert, Custer
1 evacuation transport: Rixey
1 attack cargo ship: Chara
1 landing ship dock: Ashland
Transport Division 38 (Capt. Charles Allen)
3 attack transports: Lamar, Alpine, Heywood
2 transports: Starlight, Monitor
1 attack cargo ships: Alshain
Transport Division "X-Ray" (Capt. J.A. Snackenberg)
2 attack transports: George Clymer, President Hayes
1 cargo ship: Mercury
Screen (Capt. W.J. Marshall)
8 Fletcher-class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Erben, Walker, Hale, Abbot, Black, Chauncey, Braine, Gansevoort

Attack Group "Baker" (Task Group 79.2)
Rear Admiral Forrest B. Royal in amphibious command ship Rocky Mount
Embarking 96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division (Right beaches)

Transport George F. Elliott
Attack cargo ship Capricornus
TG 79.4 Transport Group "Baker" (Task Group 79.4)
Capt. H.B. Knowles
Transport Division 10 (Capt. G.D. Morrison)
4 attack transports: Clay, Arthur Middleton, Baxter, William P. Biddle
1 transport: George F. Elliott
1 attack cargo ship: Capricornus
1 landing ship vehicle: Catskill
Transport Division 18 (Capt. Knowles)
3 attack transports: Cambria, Monrovia, Frederick Funston
1 transport: War Hawk
1 attack cargo ship: Alcyone
2 landing ship docks: Casa Grande, Rushmore
Transport Division 28 (Capt. H.C. Flanagan)
3 attack transports: Bolivar, Sheridan, Doyen
1 transport: Comet
1 attack cargo ship: Almaack
1 landing ship dock: Belle Grove
Screen (Capt. E.R. McLean)
9 destroyers
8 Fletcher-class: Picking, Sproston, Wickes, Isherwood, Charles J. Badger, Halligan, Haraden, Twiggs
1 Farragut-class: MacDonough

Fire Support Unit South
Battleship Tennessee underway
Heavy cruiser Portland in drydock

Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf in heavy cruiser Louisville

Battleship Division 2 (Rear Adm. Theodore E. Chandler)
3 old battleships: Tennessee (Capt. J.B. Heffernan), California (Capt. H.P. Burnett), Pennsylvania (Capt. C.F. Martin)
Cruiser Division 4 (Rear Adm. Oldendorf)
3 heavy cruisers: Louisville (Capt. S.H. Hurt), Portland (Capt. Thomas G. W. Settle), Minneapolis (Capt. H.B. Slocum)
Cruiser Division 9 (Rear Adm. Walden L. Ainsworth)
1 light cruiser: Honolulu (Capt. H.R. Thurber)
Cruiser Division 12 (Rear Adm. Robert W. Hayler)
2 light cruisers: Denver (Capt. A.M. Bledsoe), Columbia (Capt. Maurice E. Curts)
Screen (Capt. Roland N. Smoot)
13 destroyers
11 Fletcher-class: Leutze, Newcomb, Bennion, Heywood L. Edwards, Richard P. Leary, Robinson, Ross, Albert W. Grant, Bryant, Halford, Claxton
2 Gleaves-class: Thorn, Welles

Service Force Seventh Fleet (Task Group 77.7)
Provision ship Crux
Hospital ship Mercy

Rear Admiral R.O. Glover

Fueling at Sea Unit (Capt. J.D. Beard)
7 oilers: Saranac, Ashtabula, Salamonie, Suamico, Kishwaukee, Schuylkill, Tallulah
5 ammunition ships: Mazama, Durham Victory, Iran Victory, Bluefield Victory, Canada Victory
Escort Unit (Cmdr. F.W. Howers)
3 destroyer escorts: Whitehurst, Witter, Bowers
Leyte Gulf Unit (Capt. E.P. Hylant)
6 tankers: Arethusa, Caribou, Mink, Panda, Porcupine, HMAS Bishopdale
1 water tanker: Severn
4 net tenders: Indus, Teak, Silverbell, Satinleaf
3 repair and salvage vessels: Achilles, Cable, Midas
1 floating dry dock: ARD-19
4 ammunition ships: Murzim, Poyang, Ranvr, Yunnan
9 provision ships: Arequipa, Calamaries, Mizar, Octane, Crux, Ganymede, Triangulum, Pollux, Acubens, HMAS Merkur
2 hospital ships: Mercy, Comfort

US Third Fleet
Third Fleet and Fast Carrier commanders
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.
Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher

Admiral William F. Halsey in fast battleship New Jersey

Fast Carrier Force (Task Force 38)

Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier Lexington

Task Group 38.1
Vice Adm. John S. McCain
Light carrier Cowpens

Vice Admiral John S. McCain

2 fleet carriers
Hornet (Capt. Austin K. Doyle)
Air Group 11 (Cmdr. F.R. Schrader)
VF-11: 33 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-11: 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-11:   1 TBF Avenger, 17 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Wasp (Capt. O.A. Weller)
Air Group 14 (Cmdr. W.C. Wingard)
VF-14: 38 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-14: 10 F6F Hellcat fighters, 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-14:   6 TBF Avenger, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
2 light carriers
Monterey (Capt. Stuart H. Ingersoll)
Air Group 28 (Lt. Cmdr. R.W. Mehle):
VF-28: 23 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-28:   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Cowpens (Capt. H.W. Taylor)
Air Group 22 (Lt. Cmdr. T.H. Jenkins):
VF-22: 26 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-22:   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Cruiser Division 6 (Rear Admiral C. Turner Joy)
1 heavy cruiser: Wichita (Capt. D.A. Spencer)
Cruiser Division 10 (Rear Admiral Lloyd J. Wiltse)
2 heavy cruisers: Boston (Capt. E.E. Herrmann), Canberra (Capt. Alexander R. Early)
1 light cruiser: Houston (Capt. W.W. Behrens)
Screen (Capt.C.F. Espe)
15 destroyers
13 Fletcher-class: Izard, Charrette, Conner, Bell, Burns, Cogswell, Caperton, Ingersoll, Knapp, Boyd, Cowell, Brown, Woodworth
2 Gleaves class: McCalla, Grayson

Task Group 38.2
Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan
Fleet carrier Intrepid
Fleet carrier Bunker Hill
Iowa-class fast battleship Iowa

Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan

3 fleet carriers
Intrepid (Capt. J.F. Bolger)
Air Group 18 (Cmdr. W.E. Ellis)
VF-18: 38 F6F Hellcat fighters, 5 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-18: 28 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-18: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Hancock (Capt. F.C. Dickey)
Air Group 7 (Cmdr. J.D. Lamade)
VF-7: 37 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-7: 42 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-7: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Bunker Hill (Capt. M.R. Greer)
Air Group 8 (Cmdr. R.L. Shifley)
VF-8: 40 F6F Hellcat fighters, 8 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-8: 17 SB2C Helldiver, 3 SBF Helldiver, 4 SBW Helldiver dive bombers
VT-8: 19 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
2 light carriers
Cabot (Capt. S.J. Michael)
Air Group 29 (Lt. Cmdr. W.E. Eder)
VF-29: 21 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-29:   1 TBF Avenger, 8 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Independence (Capt. E.C. Ewen)
Night Air Group 41 (Cmdr. T.F. Caldwell)
VFN-41:   5 F6F Hellcat fighters, 14 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VTN-41:   8 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Battleship Division 7 (Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger II)
2 fast battleships: Iowa (Capt. A.R. McCann), New Jersey (Capt. Carl F. Holden)
Cruiser Division 14 (Rear Admiral Francis E. M. Whiting)
2 light cruisers: Vincennes (Capt. A.D. Brown), Miami (Capt. J.G. Crawford)
2 anti-aircraft light cruisers:[lower-alpha 5] San Diego (Capt. W.A. Mullan), Oakland (Capt. K.S. Reed)
Screen (Captain John P. Womble)
18 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Owen, Miller, The Sullivans, Stephen Potter, Tingey, Hickox, Hunt, Lewis Hancock, Marshall, Halsey Powell, Cushing, Colahan, Uhlmann, Benham, Stockham, Wedderburn, Twining, Yarnall

Task Group 38.3

Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman

Vice Adm. Frederick C. Sherman
South Dakota-class fast battleship Massachusetts
Anti-aircraft light cruiser Reno
2 fleet carriers
Essex (Capt. C.W. Wheeler)
Air Group 15 (Cmdr. H.T. Utter)
VF-15: 46 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-15: 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-15: 15 TBF Avenger, 5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Lexington (Capt. E.W. Litch)
Air Group 19 (Cmdr. T.H. Winters)
VF-19: 37 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-19: 30 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-19: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
2 light carriers
Princeton (Capt. W.H. Buracker)
Air Group 27 (Lt. Cmdr. F.A. Bardshar)
VF-27: 21 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-27:   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Langley (Capt. J.F. Wegforth)
Air Group 44 (Cmdr. M.T. Wordell)
VF-44: 25 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-44:   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
4 fast battleships (Vice Admiral Willis Augustus Lee)[lower-alpha 6]
Washington (Capt. Thomas R. Cooley)
Battleship Division 8 (Rear Adm. Glenn B. Davis)
Massachusetts (Capt. W.W. Warlick)
Battleship Division 9 (Rear Adm. Edward Hanson)
Alabama (Capt. Vincent R. Murphy), South Dakota (Capt. Charles B. Momsen)
Cruiser Division 13 (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose)
3 light cruisers: Santa Fe (Capt. Jerauld Wright), Mobile (Capt. C.C. Miller), Birmingham (Capt. Thomas B. Inglis)
1 anti-aircraft light cruiser:[lower-alpha 7] Reno (Capt. R.C. Alexander)
Screen (Capt. C.R. Todd)
14 destroyers (all Fletcher-class): Clarence K. Bronson, Cotten, Dortch, Gatling, Healy, Porterfield, Callaghan, Cassin Young, Irwin, Preston, Laws, Longshaw, Morrison, Prichett

Task Group 38.4
Rear Adm. Ralph E. Davison
Fleet carrier Enterprise
Destroyer Bagley
Before World War II
After World War II

Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison

2 fleet carriers

Franklin (Capt. J.M. Shoemaker)
Air Group 13 (Cmdr. R.L. Kibbe)
VF-13: 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-13: 31 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-13: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Enterprise (Capt. Cato D. Glover)
Air Group 20 (Cmdr. D.F. Smith)
VF-20: 35 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-20: 34 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-20: 19 TBF Avenger, 5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers

San Jacinto (Capt. M.H. Kernodle)
Air Group 51 (Cmdr. C.L. Moore)
VF-51: 19 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-51:   7 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Belleau Wood (Capts. John Perry)
Air Group 21 (Lt. Cmdr. V.F. Casey)
VF-21: 25 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-21:   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
1 heavy cruiser: New Orleans (Capt. J.E. Hurff)
1 light cruiser: Biloxi (Capt. P.R. Heineman)

Screen (Capt. V.D. Long)

11 destroyers
3 Gleaves-class: Wilkes, Nicholson, Swanson
3 Gridley-class: Gridley, McCall, Maury
5 Bagley-class: Bagley, Helm, Mugford, Patterson, Ralph Talbot

Notes
  1. Two Australian
  2. Two Australian
  3. Three Australian
  4. Four Australian, one British
  5. These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was abandoneded and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[1]
  6. Commander Battleships, Pacific Fleet
  7. These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was abandoneded and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[2]

References
  1. Stille, p. 7.
  2. Stille, p. 7.

Bibliography
  • Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). Leyte, June 1944 - January 1945. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. XII. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-7858-1313-6.
  • Stille, Mark (2016). US Navy Light Cruisers, 1941-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4728-1140-0.
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