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 and the United States Navy's Pacific 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 Tokyo)

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, 3 destroyers

24-25 Oct – Battle of Surigao Strait

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 (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) (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[lower-alpha 1] (sortied from Pescadores, Formosa 22 Oct)

Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima

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)

7 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)
• 3 Hatsuharu-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Hatsuharu, Hatsushimo, Wakaba (sunk by air attack 24 Oct)

American Forces

Southern Attack Force and Surigao Strait Commanders

Vice Adm. Theodore S. Wilkinson

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 79 (Southern Attack Force)

Vice Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson in amphibious command ship Mount Olympus

Left Flank (Rear Admiral 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,[lower-alpha 2] Robinson, Halford, Bryant, Heywood L. Edwards, Bennion, Leutze

Battle Line (Rear Adm. George L. Weyler)

6 battleships

• West Virginia (8 x 16-in. main battery) (Capt. Herbert V. Wiley)
• 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

Right Flank (Rear Adm. Russell S. Berkey)

1 heavy cruiser

• HMAS Shropshire (8 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN)

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)

• 4 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Remey, McGowan, Melvin, Mertz

Destroyer Division 108

• 3 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): McDermut, Monssen, McNair

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)

1 super battleship

• Yamato (9 x 18-in. main battery)

1 old battleship

• Nagato (8 x 16-in. main battery)

Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita)

2 heavy cruisers

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

Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Shintaro Hashimoto)

2 heavy cruisers

• Myoko (10 x 8-in. main battery)
• 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

Fast Carrier and TG 38.1 Commanders

Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher

Vice Adm. John S. McCain, Sr.

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

Essex-class fleet carrier Wasp at Ulithi 1944

Light carrier Cowpens underway 1943

Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers

Task Group 38.1 (Task Group One)

Vice Adm. John S. McCain, Sr.

2 fleet carriers

Wasp (Capt. O.A. Weller)

Air Group 14 (Cmdr. W.C. Wingard)

• 49 F6F Hellcat fighters
• 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
•   6 TBF, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
•   4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters

Hornet (Capt. A.K. Doyle)

Air Group 14 (Cmdr. F.R. Schrader)

• 36 F6F Hellcat fighters
• 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
• 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
•   5 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters

2 light carriers

Monterey (Capt. S.H. Ingersoll)

Air Group 28 (Lt. Cmdr. R.W. Mehle)

• 22 F6F Hellcat fighters
•   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Cowpens (Capt. H.W. Taylor)

Air Group 22 (Lt. Cmdr. T.H. Jenkins)

• 26 F6F Hellcat fighters
•   9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Cruiser Division 6 (Rear Adm. C. Turner Joy)

1 heavy cruiser

• Wichita (9 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. D.A. Spencer)

Cruiser Division 10 (Rear Adm. Lloyd J. Wiltse)

1 heavy cruiser

• Boston (9 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. E.E. Herrmann)

Cruiser Division 5 (Rear Adm. Allan E. Smith)

3 heavy cruisers

• Pensacola (10 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. A.P. Mullinnix)
• Salt Lake City (10 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. L.W. Busbey)
• Chester (9 x 8-in. main battery) (Capt. Henry Hartley)

Screen

21 destroyers

• 12 Fletcher-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Boyd, Brown, Cowell, Charrette, Conner, Bell, Burns, Izard, Caperton, Cogswell, Ingersoll, Knapp
• 6 Mahan-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Cummings, Case, Cassin, Downes, Dunlap, Fanning
• 2 Gleaves-class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Grayson, McCalla
• 1 Benson-class (4 x 5-in. main battery): Woodworth

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)
2. Damaged by friendly fire

References

• 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.