For the Battle of Leyte Gulf, see
Leyte Gulf order of battle
Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid
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.
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
Combat Units
Central Philippines Attack Force (Task Force 77)
Vice Admiral Kinkaid
Flag group
1 light cruiser
1
Brooklyn -class (15 × 6-in. main battery):
Nashville
4 destroyers
All
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Ammen ,
Abner Read ,
Mullany ,
Bush
Close Covering Group (Task Group 77.3)
Rear Admiral
Russell S. Berkey
2 heavy cruisers
Both
County -class (8 × 8-in. main battery):
Australia ,
Shropshire
2 light cruisers
Both
Brooklyn -class (15 × 6-in. main battery):
Phoenix ,
Boise
6 destroyers
4
Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Bache ,
Beale ,
Daly ,
Killen
2
Tribal -class (8 × 4.7-in. main battery):
Arunta ,
Warramunga
Escort Carrier Group (Task Group 77.4)
Rear Adm. Thomas L. Sprague
Escort carrier Suwannee
Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter
Rear Admiral
Thomas L. Sprague
"Taffy 1"
Rear Admiral T.L. Sprague
6 escort carriers
Sangamon (Capt. 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 (Capt. 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 Adm.
George R. Henderson )
Saginaw Bay (Capt. 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 (5 × 5-in. main battery):
McCord ,
Trathen ,
Hazelwood
5 destroyer escorts
4
John C. Butler -class (2 × 5-in. main battery):
Edmonds ,
Richard M. Rowell ,
Richard S. Bull ,
Eversole
1
Buckley -class (3 × 3-in. main battery):
Coolbaugh
Escort carrier Savo Island
John C. Butler-class destroyer escort
"Taffy 2"
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 (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Haggard ,
Franks ,
Hailey
5 destroyer escorts
All
John C. Butler -class (2 × 5-in. main battery):
Richard W. Suesens ,
Abercrombie ,
Oberrender ,
LeRay Wilson ,
Walter C. Wann
Rear Adm. Clifton A.F. Sprague
Escort carrier White Plains
Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber
"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 (sunk at the
Battle off Samar , 25 Oct) (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 (sunk at the
Battle off Samar , 25 Oct) (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 (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Hoel (sunk at the
Battle off Samar , 25 Oct}),
Heermann ,
Johnston (sunk at the
Battle off Samar , 25 Oct)
4 destroyer escorts
All
John C. Butler -class (2 × 5-in. main battery):
Dennis ,
John C. Butler ,
Raymond ,
Samuel B. Roberts (sunk at the
Battle off Samar , 25 Oct)
Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group (Task Group 77.5)
Auk-class minesweeper
Australian harbour defence motor launch
Commander W.R. Loud
1 frigate:
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
11 fast transports
Embarking
Underwater Demolition Teams 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10
[e]
8
ex-Clemson -class destroyers:
Clemson ,
Goldsborough ,
Kane ,
Brooks ,
Belknap ,
Overton ,
Humphreys ,
George E. Badger
2
ex-Wickes -class destroyers:
Rathburne ,
Talbot
1
ex-Caldwell -class destroyer:
Manley
Amphibious Assault Units
Northern Attack Force (Task Force 78)
Rear Adm. Daniel E. Barbey
Landing ship dock Gunston Hall
Steel-hulled sub chaser
Attack transport James O'Hara
Landing ship tank
Rear Admiral
Daniel E. Barbey in amphibious command ship
Blue Ridge
Embarking
X Army Corps under Maj. Gen. Franklin C. Sibert
Palo Attack Group (Task Group 78.1): Left beaches
Rear Admiral Barbey
Embarking
24th Infantry ("Taro") Division under Maj. Gen. Frederick A. Irving
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 (5 × 5-in. main battery):
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): Right beaches
Rear Admiral W.M. Fechteler in attack transport
Fremont
Embarking
1st Cavalry Division Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge
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 (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Fletcher ,
Jenkins ,
La Vallette
1
Sims -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
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 Adm. George L. Weyler)
3 old battleships
1
Colorado -class (8 × 16-in. main battery):
Maryland ,
West Virginia
2
New Mexico -class (12 × 14-in. main battery):
Mississippi
3 destroyers
All
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
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
3
landing ships infantry :
Kanimbla ,
Manoora ,
Westralia
4
Fletcher -class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Sigsbee ,
Ringgold ,
Schroeder ,
Dashiell
1
Sims -class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Hughes
1
minelayer :
Ariadne
Dinagat Attack Group (Task Group 78.4)
Rear Admiral Struble in
Hughes
Embarking
6th Ranger Battalion and Co. B / 21st Infantry
5 fast transports: (all
ex-Wickes -class destroyers):
Kilty ,
Schley ,
Ward ,
Herbert ,
Crosby
2
Benham -class destroyers (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Lang ,
Stack
2
Tacoma -class
frigates (3 × 3-in. main battery):
Gallup ,
Bisbee
1 fleet tug:
Chickasaw
Reinforcement Group One (Task Group 78.6)
Captain S.P. Jenkins
Arriving 22 October
Amphibious assault vessels
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
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Stevens ,
Howorth
2
Sims -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Mustin ,
Morris
2 frigates
Both
Tacoma -class (3 × 3-in. main battery):
Carson City ,
Burlington
Destroyer Drayton
Tacoma -class frigate
Reinforcement Group Two (Task Group 78.7)
Captain J.K.P. Ginder
Arriving 24 October
Amphibious assault vessels
32
landing ships tank
24 merchant ships
Escort (Capt. Ginder)
4 destroyers
All
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Nicholas ,
O'Bannon ,
Taylor ,
Hopewell
2 frigates
Both
Tacoma -class (3 × 3-in. main battery):
Muskogee ,
San Pedro
Reinforcement Group Three (Task Group 78.9)
Commander J.L. Steinmetz, USCG
Arriving 29 October
Amphibious assault vessels
62
landing ships tank
19 merchant ships
Escort (Capt. W.M. Cole)
5 destroyers
All
Mahan -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Mahan ,
Drayton ,
Lamson ,
Flusser ,
Smith
4 frigates
All
Tacoma -class (3 × 3-in. main battery):
Eugene ,
El Paso ,
Van Buren ,
Orange
Southern Attack Force (Task Force 79)
Vice Adm. Theodore S. Wilkinson
Richard L. Conolly as a vice admiral
Mount Olympus (Vice Adm. Wilkinson)
Appalachian (Rear Adm. Conolly)
Vice Admiral
Theodore S. Wilkinson in amphibious command ship
Mount Olympus
Embarking
XXIV Army Corps under Lieut. Gen.
John R. Hodge
Attack Group "Able" (Task Group 79.1): Left beaches
Rear Admiral
Richard L. Conolly in amphibious command ship
Appalachian
Embarking
7th Infantry "Bayonet" Division under Maj. Gen.
Archibald V. Arnold
Transport Group "Able" (Task Group 79.3)
Captain 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 destroyers
All
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Erben ,
Walker ,
Hale ,
Abbot ,
Black ,
Chauncey ,
Braine ,
Gansevoort
Rear Adm. Forrest B. Royal
Attack cargo ship Capricornus
Attack Group "Baker" (Task Group 79.2): Right beaches
Rear Admiral
Forrest B. Royal
[f]
Embarking
96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division under Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley
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 (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Picking ,
Sproston ,
Wickes ,
Isherwood ,
Charles J. Badger ,
Halligan ,
Haraden ,
Twiggs
1
Farragut -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
MacDonough
Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf
Battleship Tennessee underway
Heavy cruiser Portland in drydock
Fire Support Unit South
Rear Admiral
Jesse B. Oldendorf in heavy cruiser
Louisville
Battleship Division 2 (Rear Adm.
Theodore E. Chandler )
3 old battleships
2
Tennessee -class (12 × 14-in. main battery):
Tennessee ,
California
1
Pennsylvania -class (12 × 14-in. main battery):
Pennsylvania
Cruiser Division 4 (Rear Adm. Oldendorf)
3 heavy cruisers
1
New Orleans -class (9 × 8-in. main battery):
Minneapolis
1
Portland -class (9 × 8-in. main battery):
Portland
1
Northampton -class (9 × 8-in. main battery):
Louisville
Cruiser Division 9 (Rear Adm.
Walden L. Ainsworth )
1 light cruiser
1
Brooklyn -class (15 × 6-in. main battery):
Honolulu
Cruiser Division 12 (Rear Adm.
Robert W. Hayler )
2 light cruisers
Both
Cleveland -class (12 × 6-in. main battery):
Denver ,
Columbia
Screen (Capt.
Roland N. Smoot )
13 destroyers
11
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Leutze ,
Newcomb ,
Bennion ,
Heywood L. Edwards ,
Richard P. Leary ,
Robinson ,
Ross ,
Albert W. Grant ,
Bryant ,
Halford ,
Claxton
2
Gleaves -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Thorn ,
Welles
Service and Support Units
Provision ship Crux
Hospital ship Mercy
Service Force Seventh Fleet (Task Group 77.7)
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
Buckley -class
destroyer escorts (3 × 3-in. main battery):
Whitehurst ,
Witter ,
Bowers
Leyte Gulf Unit (Capt. E.P. Hylant)
6 tankers:
Arethusa ,
Caribou ,
Mink ,
Panda ,
Porcupine , 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 , Merkur
2
hospital ships :
Mercy ,
Comfort
US Third Fleet
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.
Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher
Admiral
William F. Halsey in fast battleship
New Jersey
Vice Admiral
Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier
Lexington
Task Group 38.1
Vice Adm. John S. McCain, Sr.
Light carrier Cowpens
Light cruiser Houston in dazzle camouflage
Vice Admiral
John S. McCain Sr.
[g]
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 Adm.
C. Turner Joy )
1 heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery)
Wichita
Cruiser Division 10 (Rear Adm. Lloyd J. Wiltse)
2 heavy cruisers
Both
Baltimore -class (9 × 8-in. main battery):
Boston ,
Canberra
1 light cruiser
1
Cleveland -class (12 × 6-in. main battery):
Houston
Screen (Capt. C.F. Espe)
15 destroyers
13
Fletcher -class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
Izard ,
Charrette ,
Conner ,
Bell ,
Burns ,
Cogswell ,
Caperton ,
Ingersoll ,
Knapp ,
Boyd ,
Cowell ,
Brown ,
Woodworth
2
Gleaves -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
McCalla ,
Grayson
Task Group 38.2
Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan
Fleet carrier Intrepid
Fleet carrier Bunker Hill
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 Adm.
Oscar C. Badger II )
2 fast battleships
Both
Iowa -class (9 × 16-in. main battery):
Iowa ,
New Jersey
Cruiser Division 14 (Rear Adm. Francis E. M. Whiting)
2 light cruisers
Both
Cleveland -class (12 × 6-in. main battery):
Vincennes ,
Miami
2
anti-aircraft light cruisers :
[h]
Both
Atlanta -class :
San Diego ,
Oakland
Screen (Capt. John P. Womble)
18 destroyers
All
Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
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 Adm.
Willis Augustus Lee )
[i]
1
North Carolina -class (9 × 16-in. main battery):
Washington
Battleship Division 8 (Rear Adm.
Glenn B. Davis )
1
South Dakota -class (9 × 16-in. main battery):
Massachusetts
Battleship Division 9 (Rear Adm.
Edward Hanson )
2
South Dakota -class (9 × 16-in. main battery):
Alabama ,
South Dakota
Cruiser Division 13 (Rear Adm.
Laurance T. DuBose )
3 light cruisers
All
Cleveland -class (12 × 6-in. main battery):
Santa Fe ,
Mobile ,
Birmingham
1 anti-aircraft light cruiser
1
Atlanta -class (12 × 5-in. main battery):
[j]
Reno
Screen (Capt. C.R. Todd)
14 destroyers
All
Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery):
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
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
1
New Orleans -class (9 × 8-in. main battery):
New Orleans
1 light cruiser
1
Cleveland -class (12 × 6-in. main battery):
Biloxi
Screen (Capt. V.D. Long)
11 destroyers
3
Gleaves -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Wilkes ,
Nicholson ,
Swanson
3
Gridley -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Gridley ,
McCall ,
Maury
5
Bagley -class (4 × 5-in. main battery):
Bagley ,
Helm ,
Mugford ,
Patterson ,
Ralph Talbot
Notes
^ Two Australian
^ Two Australian
^ Three Australian
^ Four Australian, one British
^
William Hopper , later an actor known for his role on the long-running TV series
Perry Mason , served in this unit.
^ Died of a heart attack on board his flagship Rocky Mount off Borneo, June 1945.
^ Grandfather of
Vietnam War veteran and officeholder
John McCain
^ 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]
^ Commander Battleships, Pacific Fleet
^ 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
^ Stille, p. 7.
^ Stille, p. 7.
Bibliography
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 .
Stille, Mark (2016). US Navy Light Cruisers, 1941-45 . Oxford: Osprey Publishing, Ltd.
ISBN
978-1-4728-1140-0 .
Leyte
Category:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
Leyte
Category:Battle of Leyte Gulf
Leyte
Leyte
Category:October 1944 events
Leyte
Category:United States Navy in World War II