However, Morison stated in a footnote "Admiral Lee, however, said after the battle that he would have been only too glad to have been ordered to cover San Bernardino Strait without air cover."[62]. As screening ships engaged the cruisers and laid down concealing smoke, Kalinin Bay shifted her fire and for the next hour traded shots with Destroyer Squadron 10. Buzz Borries (433 words) exact match in snippet view article find links to article heavy fire from Japanese navy battleships and cruisers during the Battle off Samar in Leyte Gulf. In October 1944, the American invasion of The Philippines began. Most expected early rescue, but as morning turned to afternoon the wait lengthened. The destroyers and destroyer escorts had to resort to darting attacks at the Japanese cruisers while firing their guns, zig-zagging back and forth between the carriers and the enemy. Colloquium on Contemporary History 1989-1998, DANFS - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Needs and Opportunities in the Modern History of the U.S. Navy, Permitting Policy and Resource Management, "Ex Scientia Tridens": The U.S. Each of the three task units of the 7th Fleet's Task Group 77.4 had six small Casablanca-class or larger Sangamon-class escort carriers. Kintberger ordered a course south towards Taffy 3. Earlier that morning, just after the Japanese force had been sighted by Taffy 3, Stump had his available TBM Avengers re-armed with torpedoes or 500-pound bombs capable of damaging capital ships. The attacking fleets were now a confused mob taking desperate evasive action to avoid what must have seemed to be a sea full of deadly torpedoes, exploding shells and charging ships. Their pilots were ordered "to attack the Japanese task force and proceed to Tacloban airstrip, Leyte, to rearm and refuel". Through rain showers and smoke the Hoel zig-zagged toward the Japanese fleet, followed by the Heerman and Samuel B. Roberts. “For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. However, Kurita turned around and made his way through the San Bernardino Strait under cover of darkness. This time, they were rewarded by the sight of large columns of water which rose from the target. The Americans were soon astonished by the spectacle of colorful geysers of the first volleys of shellfire finding the range. As enemy ships fled the Battle of Surigao Strait at daybreak on 25 October 1944, the powerful Japanese Center Force slipped through San Bernadino Strait. [48] Kurita reported that his force had sunk two carriers, two cruisers, and some destroyers. One of the TBMs, armed with a HE bomb, near-missed close astern to port, carrying away one of Suzuya's propellers, reducing her maximum speed to 20 knots. Smoke screens partially shielded Sprague’s carriers, but the escorts were hit hard, yet remained underway and able to fight. Destroyer escorts, acting … "Leyte: Unanswered Questions". The ship sank off the coast of Samar Island on Oct. 25, 1944, during World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf, an intense struggle with Japanese forces that heavily outmatched the Johnston's crew. Several dozen more rounds were fired at the closest target at 11,000 yards. However, while their top speed of 17.5 kn (20.1 mph; 32.4 km/h) was adequate for cargo convoys or ground support, they were too slow to keep up with or escape a fast task force. At 0623, shortly after sunrise and before the task force had fully shifted to its circular daytime anti-aircraft formation, Yamato made radar contact with U.S. ASW patrol aircraft. From as close as 7,000 yards Hagen fired and scored a dozen hits on the destroyer leader before it turned away. [36], Admiral Sprague then ordered Thomas to attack the Japanese with torpedoes. Watercolor by Commander Dwight C. Shepler, USNR, depicting an episode during the torpedo attacks by the TG 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") destroyer screen. Moments later three 6 in (150 mm) shells — possibly from the Yamato — struck Johnston's bridge, causing numerous casualties and severing the fingers of Commander Evans's left hand. The U.S. task units were not to have a long respite. Experts from the Research Vessel Petrel, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, had previously released video of the battered and twisted hull lying eerily on the ocean floor. While the battle is frequently included in historical accounts of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the duels between the destroyer and destroyer escorts and Yamato and the Japanese force was the subject of a Dogfights television program "Death of the Japanese Navy"[65] That episode, as well as a History Channel documentary was based on The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, written by James D. Hornfischer. Fired from an enemy battleship, the large caliber shell (14 in (360 mm) or 16 in (410 mm)) struck the starboard side of the hangar deck just aft of the forward elevator. 0 [BITSA] Slydr_Sr. With the outcome of the war already decided, the Japanese were seeking little more than a “fitting place to die,” according to their planning documents. Given the dispositions of the two forces, it was also questionable if an advantageous firing position was even still possible. The Johnston reversed course and disappeared in the smoke, avoiding the Kongo's 14-inch return fire. Rather than a carefully orchestrated effort, each division in his task force was to attack separately. Samuel B. Roberts joined Heerman and the badly damaged Hoel; Dennis, John C. Butler, and Raymond followed, attacking individually. His invasion was supported by what is likely the… As a midshipman, he served on the cruisers Kasagi and Niitaka. Taffy 3 might not have survived if Kurita’s ships had not been under air attack during the entire Samar engagement. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2006. As noted above, Rear Admiral Stump’s TG 77.4.2 (Taffy 2), was particularly engaged in this facet of the battle, augmenting Taffy 3 aircraft over the dispersed Center Force. Sprague directed his carriers to launch their planes, then run for the cover of a rain squall to the east. [57][58] A plane had spotted the survivors, but the location radioed back was incorrect. Center Force, still under air attack, began to retrace its course toward the northwest. Nishimura's flotilla included two battleships and would be followed by Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima with three cruisers. A Japanese force commanded by Admiral Kurita of four battleships, eight cruisers, and eleven destroyers managed to sneak through undetected. Sprague also launched fighters and bombers, which, although armed for their original close air support and ASW missions, could at least harass Taffy 3’s pursuers. Amazingly, the entire squadron turned away west to avoid the Johnston's fire. 9. Convinced he was facing a much larger force due to the ferocity of the American resistance, Admiral Kurita gave a "cease action" order at 09:00 with instructions to rendezvous north. We will do what damage we can.” He realized that at his current heading and location his small ship would be in a text book position to launch a torpedo attack at the leading heavy cruiser. Five minutes later, she ceased fire and retired southward with the other survivors of Taffy 3. (At one point, Taffy 2 sighted Japanese ships, which, temporarily diverted from their pursuit of Sprague, fired on Taffy 2’s destroyers.) Due to still-ongoing shift from nighttime to daylight antiaircraft dispositions, this order inadvertently led to confusion. 12. By that time, many had died as a result of exposure, thirst and shark attacks. The overall Japanese strategy at Leyte Gulf—a plan known as Shō-Go 1—called for Vice-Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa's fleet—known as Northern Force—to lure the American 3rd Fleet away from the Allied landings on Leyte, using an apparently vulnerable force of carriers. July 16, 2020. By comparison, the Japanese lost twenty-six ships of 306,000 long tons (311,000 t).[61]. This battle did reveal that their partly automated fire control was largely ineffective against maneuvering ships at long range (though some ships such as the Kongō did hit their targets when they got closer). The Battle off Samar. —Interview by Hornfischer of Tom Stevensen, Survivor Samuel B. Roberts[60]. [3][4], Sprague's task unit lost two escort carriers, two destroyers, a destroyer escort and dozens of aircraft. USS Gambier Bay, straddled by large calibre rounds from VADM Kurita’s surface force, 25 October 1944. Twelve direct hits were later confirmed by damage plus two large-caliber near misses. Halsey sent Task Group 38.1 (TG 38.1)—commanded by Vice Admiral John S. McCain—to assist. Following the 24 October Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the powerful Japanese First Diversion Attack Force (“Center Force”) appeared to be retiring westward. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His destroyers generated a smoke screen and, Johnston in the lead, began firing at their pursuers. He ordered his destroyers to generate smoke to mask the retreating carriers. and we all yelled 'St. Having the attention of a substantial portion of the Japanese fleet, soon shells of all calibers were straddling the attacking destroyer. USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) straddled by Japanese shells and falling behind the rest of her task group, during the battle off Samar, 25 October 1944. The Battle off Samar was only one of several major naval conflicts that constituted the Battles of Leyte Gulf. At 08:30, five Japanese destroyers steamed over the horizon off her starboard quarter. It has been speculated that even if Center Force had quickly annihilated the escort carrier units, Kurita would still have had to contend with Jesse Oldendorf's task group—which contained six well armed and armoured battleships and eight large, powerful cruisers. Gambier Bay was dead in the water and sinking by 0840 and ordered abandoned ten minutes later. Note the extensive oil slick around the sinking cruiser (80-G-287538). I can't believe that they didn't just go in and wipe us out. The courage displayed by the tin can sailors and the crews & airmen of Taffy 3 was outstanding. USS Johnston (DD-557) off Seattle or Tacoma, Washington, 27 October 1943. This story of an overmatched group of American destroyers and destroyer escorts beating off a vastly superior Japanese force including battleships and cruisers is the stuff of naval legend, and was perhaps the linchpin to American victory at Leyte Gulf. Within a few minutes steerage had been restored from the aft steering room. The three destroyers, Johnston (in the lead), Heerman, and Hoel carried out the first. Perhaps seeing his disadvantage, the Commander of the lead destroyer turned away to the west. Ellis’ idea about the Battle off Samar was the project they’d been waiting for. At seventeen knots the Roberts began to receive hits regularly. Lo's flight deck; although the aircraft itself was stopped there, its bomb penetrated the deck, inflicting a fatal blow. Sprague's ships would not lose as much firepower as rear firing weapons are more numerous, and his carriers would still operate aircraft. As the only major action in the larger battle where the Americans were largely unprepared against the opposing forces, it has been cited by historians as one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history. USS Santee (CVE-29) was hit by one, which caused flight and hangar deck fires. In total, the American forces lost two destroyers, a destroyer escort, two escort carriers, and several aircraft. As he retreated north and then west through the San Bernardino Strait, the smaller and heavily damaged American force continued to press the battle. Followers 0. The Americans also had large numbers of aircraft available which the Japanese lacked. The explosion resulted in such severe damage that it knocked out the rudder and engines, causing Chōkai to drop out of formation. In the center distance, Japanese shells are splashing near USS White Plains (CVE-66) (80-G-287497). Read More » Popular Posts. Armed only with depth charges in case of an encounter enemy submarines, the aviators nevertheless were determined to carry out the first attack of the battle, aggressively setting the tone of the battle by leaving a calling card of several depth charges which bounced off the bow of a cruiser. [10] Minutes later, 0733, Kongo was forced to turn away north to avoid four torpedoes. Having revealed its true nature and being targeted by Japanese, Yamato's 6.1 in (150 mm) guns scored a hit on her bridge, knocking out all voice radio communication, killing four men, wounding Kintberger and Screen Flag Officer Commander William Dow Thomas. 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