WW2 Chapter 37 - Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23-26, 1944)

While Franklin’s 7th Division was occupied in the jungles of Leyte, the largest naval and aircraft battle in history was taking place to their east.

Between October 23 and 26, the Japanese navy attacked the Allies in four major engagements known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf. A total of 282 warships from both sides were engaged in the battle, including massive battleships, destroyers, aircraft carriers, cruisers, and support crafts.

American Cruiser, Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Japanese military leaders knew it was critical for them to hold onto the Philippines if they were to defeat the Allies in the war. If the Japanese were successful with this naval battle, they could isolate the American land forces on the island while maintaining their own critical supply lines from Southeast Asia.

 

The enemy therefore sent nearly all of their remaining warships to the area of the gulf to destroy the Allied invasion fleet. After using decoy ships to lure much of the Allied naval forces to the north, two powerful Japanese battleship forces converged on the Allied fleet.

 

By this time in the war, the enemy was becoming increasingly desperate and began using kamikazes for the first time. During a kamikaze attack, Japanese pilots intentionally crashed their planes into Allied ships, causing severe damage and loss of life.

 

Although the 7th Division was located many miles from this naval battle, they must have heard the massive firepower and explosions during the three days of battle, not fully knowing what was going on. The noise must have been considerable as the ships fired huge guns up to 18 inches in diameter, along with the sounds of diving aircraft and large explosions as ships were blown up by missiles and torpedoes.

 

Despite heavy losses, the Allies were able to destroy most of Japan’s remaining fleet, including 26 of their large warships. In doing so, the Allies were able to defend the landing forces on Leyte and prevent the Japanese from cutting off supplies of food and ammunition to the troops. Also, by recapturing this area of the Pacific, the Allies were able to further cut off the enemy's fuel supplies from Southeast Asia, thereby stranding most of their remaining ships for the remainder of the war.

Nonetheless, in the coming weeks, due to a lack of Allied air support, the Japanese were able to land thousands of additional troops onto the island from the west, presenting further difficulties for the 7th Division.