The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, fought in the seas around the island of Leyte in the Philippines from 23 October to 26 October 1944. The Japanese intended to repel or destroy the Allied invasion of Leyte. Instead, the Allied navies inflicted a major defeat on the outnumbered Imperial Japanese Navy which left it no longer a strategic force in the Pacific War. Photo #: 80-G-287970 Loss of USS Princeton (CVL-23), 24 October 1944 Princeton burning soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. ... The fourth USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier lost at the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. ... Map of the Philippines showing the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Pacific War (1937–1945) is not to be confused with the War of the Pacific (1879–1884) in South America. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Republic of the Philippines is a country of South East Asia, located in the western Pacific Ocean some 1,210 km (750 mi) from mainland Asia. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only country to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/Oceania. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... William Bull Halsey William Frederick Bull Halsey, Jr. ... Jisaburo Ozawa (小沢治三郎, Ozawa Jisaburo, 1886 – 1966) was a Japanese admiral during World War II. He was the last commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Battle of Leyte Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date October 20, 1944 – December 31, 1944 Place Leyte, Philippines Result American victory The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Allied forces under... A naval battle is a battle fought using ships or other waterborne vessels. ... The Pacific War (1937–1945) is not to be confused with the War of the Pacific (1879–1884) in South America. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... This article is about the island. ... The Republic of the Philippines is a country of South East Asia, located in the western Pacific Ocean some 1,210 km (750 mi) from mainland Asia. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Official language Japanese Capital Tokyo Largest City Tokyo Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 60th 377,835 km² 0. ... In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) (大日本帝國海軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun or 日本海軍 Nippon Kaigun) was the navy of Japan before 1945. ...

The battle is often considered to be the largest naval battle in history. The question of the largest naval battle in history is controversial, and depends on the definition of battle and the criteria used to assess the size, such as personnel, the number of ships, their tonnage, the area involved, and the duration. ...

Leyte Gulf was also the scene of the first use of kamikaze aircraft by the Japanese. The Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Australia was hit on 21 October, and organized suicide attacks by the "Special Attack Force" began on 25 October. A Japanese Zero about to hit the USS Missouri. ... Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only country to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/Oceania. ... A heavy cruiser is a type of large warship which originated with the British Hawkins class during World War I. They entered service after the war. ... HMAS Australia, launched in 1927, was a County-class heavy cruiser in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ...

Strategic background

The battles of 1943 had driven the Imperial Japanese Army from its bases in the Solomon Islands, and in 1944 a series of Allied amphibious landings supported by large carrier forces had captured the Marianas Islands. The Allied victory in the battle of the Philippine Sea in June had destroyed Japanese carrier power and established Allied air and sea superiority over the Western Pacific. The Imperial Japanese Army (大日本帝国陸軍 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was in existence from the Meiji Reformation to the end of World War II. It was created to replace the traditional Japanese samurai with a modern Western-style conscript army. ... The Solomon Islands is a nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea and is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... Mariana Islands (sometimes called The Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called the Ladrone Islands) are a group of islands made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the Pacific Ocean. ... Battle of the Philippine Sea Conflict World War II, Pacific Theater of Operations Date 19–20 June 1944 Place The Philippine Sea Result Decisive American victory The Battle of the Philippine Sea was an air-sea battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought between the US Navy... June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ...

This gave the Allies freedom to choose where to strike next. Admiral Chester Nimitz favoured blockading Japanese forces in the Philippines and attacking Formosa (present day Taiwan). Possession of Formosa would give the Allies control of the sea routes to Japan from Southern Asia, severing Japan's links with its garrisons, which would then perish from lack of supplies. General Douglas MacArthur favoured an invasion of the Philippines, which also lay across the supply lines to Japan. Leaving the Philippines in Japanese possession would be a blow to American prestige, and a personal affront to MacArthur, who in 1942 had famously vowed to return. President Roosevelt was called in to adjudicate the dispute; he chose the Philippines. Chester Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) was the Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces for the United States and Allied forces during World War II. He was the nations leading authority on submarines, as well as Chief of the Navy Bureau of Navigation in... Formosa is a placename which comes from the Portuguese word meaning beautiful. ... Taiwan is mostly mountainous in the east, but gradually transitions to gently sloping plains in the west (satellite photo by NASA). ... MacArthur landing at Leyte Beach in 1944. ... Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882–April 12, 1945), 32nd President of the United States, the longest-serving holder of the office and the only man to be elected President more than twice, was one of the central figures of 20th century history. ...

The Allied options were equally apparent to the Imperial Japanese Navy. Combined Fleet Chief Toyoda Soemu prepared four "victory" plans: Shō-1 (捷１号作戦 Shō ichigō sakusen) was a major naval operation in the Philippines, Shō-2, -3 and -4 were responses to attacks on Formosa, the Ryukyu Islands and the Kurile Islands respectively. The plans were uncompromising, complex, aggressive operations committing all forces to a decisive battle. Soemu Toyoda (豊田副武 Toyoda Soemu, May 22, 1885 - September 22, 1957) was a Japanese admiral of World War II. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1905 and joined the Imperial Japanese Navy and by 1941 had reached the rank of admiral and was commander of the Kure Naval Station. ... The Ryukyu Islands (琉球列島 Ryūkyū-rettō) are an island group, the southern portion belonging to Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and the northern part belonging to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. ... The Kuril Islands The Kuril Islands (Russian: Кури́льские острова́), also known as Kurile Islands, stretch northeast from Hokkaido, Japan, to Kamchatka, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. ...

Thus, when on October 12 1944 Nimitz launched a carrier raid against Formosa to make sure that planes based there could not intervene in the Leyte landings, the Japanese put Shō-2 into action, launching wave after wave of attacks against the carriers, losing 600 planes in three days, almost their entire air force, and leaving the Japanese navy without air cover. October 12 is the 285th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (286th in leap years). ... Leyte can refer to several things: Leyte, an island in the Phillipines, site of a major World War II battle Leyte Gulf, also in the Phillipines, and site of a WW II battle Leyte province, a province of the Phillipines, including most of Leyte island Southern Leyte, a province of...

Shō-1 called for Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa's force to lure the U.S. Third Fleet away from the landings using an apparently vulnerable force of carriers. The Allied landing forces, now lacking air cover, would then be attacked from the west by three Japanese forces: Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's force, based in Brunei, would enter Leyte Gulf and destroy the Allied landing forces. Rear-Admiral Shoji Nishimura's force and Vice Admiral Kiyohide Shima's force would act as as mobile strike forces. The latter three forces would consist of surface ships. Jisaburo Ozawa (小沢治三郎, Ozawa Jisaburo, 1886 – 1966) was a Japanese admiral during World War II. He was the last commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Categories: People stubs | 1889 births | 1977 deaths | Imperial Japanese Navy admirals | Japanese World War II people ... The Sultanate of Brunei, more commonly referred to as Brunei Darussalam or simply Brunei, is an oil-rich country located on the island of Borneo, in southeast Asia. ... Shoji Nishimura ( - 1944) was a Japanese Vice Admiral who died in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. ...

The plan was likely to result in the destruction of one or more of the forces, but Toyoda later justified it to his American interrogators as follows:

Should we lose in the Philippines operations, even though the fleet should be left, the shipping lane to the south would be completely cut off so that the fleet, if it should come back to Japanese waters, could not obtain its fuel supply. If it should remain in southern waters, it could not receive supplies of ammunition and arms. There would be no sense in saving the fleet at the expense of the loss of the Philippines.

The four engagements in the battle of Leyte Gulf.

Download high resolution version (1001x1454, 240 KB)The four engagements of the battle of Leyte Gulf: Battle of the Sibuyan Sea Battle of Surigao Strait Battle off Cape Engaño Battle off Samar A modification of Image:Leyte Gulf. ... Download high resolution version (1001x1454, 240 KB)The four engagements of the battle of Leyte Gulf: Battle of the Sibuyan Sea Battle of Surigao Strait Battle off Cape Engaño Battle off Samar A modification of Image:Leyte Gulf. ...

Overview of the battle

The battle consisted of four distinct engagements. See the map to the right.

1. Kurita's force entered the Sibuyan Sea, northwest of Leyte, on 24 October. In the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea it was attacked by carrier aircraft and Musashi was sunk. When Kurita turned around the American pilots thought he was retreating, but he turned again and made his way through the San Bernardino Strait in the night, to appear off Samar in the morning.
2. Nishimura's force headed for the Surigao Strait to the south, where at 03:00 on 25 October it ran into an American battlegroup. In the Battle of Surigao Strait the Japanese battleships Fuso and Yamashiro were sunk, Nishimura was killed, and his surviving force retreated west.
3. Halsey learned of the approach of Ozawa and took the bait, taking his carriers in pursuit on 25 October. In the Battle off Cape Engaño four Japanese carriers were sunk by air attacks. Ozawa's surviving ships fled for Japan.
4. Kurita arrived off Samar at about 06:00 on 25 October. With Halsey away in pursuit of Ozawa, the only American forces between Kurita and the landing beaches were three groups of escort carriers and their destroyers. But in the Battle off Samar, desperate American destroyer torpedo attacks, relentless air attacks and bad weather bluffed Kurita into turning back.

The Sibuyan Sea is a small sea in the Philippines that separates the Visayas from the northern Philippine island of Luzon. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... Musashi (武蔵) was a battleship belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was the second and final ship of her class. ... The San Bernardino Strait is a strait in the Philippines. ... Samar is an island in the Visayas, which is in the central Philippines. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... Fuso (Japanese: 扶桑, an old name for Japan), was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. ... The Yamashiro (山城) was the Imperial Japanese Navys second Fuso-class battleship, and was laid down at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on November 20, 1913, launched on November 3, 1915, and commissioned on March 31, 1917. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ...

Battle of the Sibuyan Sea

Yamato under attack in the Sibuyan Sea.

Kurita's powerful "Center Force" consisted of five battleships (Yamato, Musashi, Nagato, Kongo, and Haruna), and twelve cruisers (Atago, Maya, Takao, Chokai, Myoko, Haguro, Noshiro, Kumano, Suzuya, Chikuma, Tone, and Yahagi), supported by thirteen destroyers. Download high resolution version (660x652, 82 KB)Japanese battleship Yamato under attack in the battle of Sibuyan Sea Downloaded from [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (660x652, 82 KB)Japanese battleship Yamato under attack in the battle of Sibuyan Sea Downloaded from [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Yamato (大和) was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was the lead ship of her class. ... Yamato (大和) was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was the lead ship of her class. ... Musashi (武蔵) was a battleship belonging to the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was the second and final ship of her class. ... Nagato (Japanese: 長門, named after Nagato province) was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. ... Kongo (金剛) was the Imperial Japanese Navys first superdreadnought class battle cruiser, and the name-ship of its class. ... Haruna (榛名) was a Kongo class battleship laid down by the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Company at Kobe on 16 March 1912, launched on 14 December 1913 and completed on 19 April 1915. ... Takao was a Japanese heavy cruiser named after a mountain north-west of Kyoto, literally High Hero. She had a displacement of 15,781 tons and dimensions of 6619 x 680 x 209, a top speed of 34 knots and was armed with 10 x 8/50... Chokai was a Takao-class heavy cruiser, armed with ten 8 guns, eight 5 guns, sixteen torpedo tubes and assorted anti-aircraft guns. ... Myoko (妙高) was the name-ship of the 4-member Myoko class of heavy cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy—the other ships of the class being the Nachi, Ashigara, and Haguro. ... Haguro (羽黒) was the last of the four-member Myoko class of heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Chikuma was a Tone-class heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy that served in World War II until sunk at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. ... Tone was a heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the lead ship of her class. ...

As Kurita passed Palawan Island shortly after midnight on October 23, his force was spotted by the submarines USS Dace and Darter. Although the submarines' report of the sighting was picked up by the radio operator on Yamato, the Japanese failed to take anti-submarine precautions. Kurita's flagship Atago was sunk by Darter and Maya by Dace. Takao was damaged and turned back to Brunei with two destroyers, shadowed by the submarines. On October 24, Darter grounded on the Bombay Shoal. All efforts to get her off failed, and she was abandoned. October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... USS Dace (SS-247), a Gato class submarine, was the first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for any of several small North American fresh-water fishes of the carp family. ... USS Darter (SS-227), a Gato class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the darter, any of many small American fresh-water fishes, closely related to the perch family. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ...

Kurita survived and moved his flag to Yamato.

At about 08:00 on October 24, the force was spotted entering the narrow Sibuyan Sea by planes from USS Intrepid. 260 planes from Intrepid, Bunker Hill and other carriers of Task Group 38.2 attacked at about 10:30, scoring hits on Nagato, Yamato, Musashi and severely damaging Myoko. The second wave of planes concentrated on Musashi, scoring many direct hits with bombs and torpedoes. As she retreated, listing to port, a third wave from Enterprise hit her with eleven bombs and eight torpedoes. Kurita turned his fleet around to get out of range of the planes, passing the crippled Musashi as he retreated. He waited until 17:15 before turning around again to head for the San Bernardino Strait. Musashi finally rolled over and sank at about 19:30. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... The Sibuyan Sea is a small sea in the Philippines that separates the Visayas from the northern Philippine island of Luzon. ... The fourth USS Intrepid (CV-11) (also CVA-11 and CVS-11) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, nicknamed Holiday Express for her many attacks launched around the end of the year. ... The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh US Navy ship of that name. ...

Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Onishi Takijiro had directed his First Air Fleet of 80 planes based on Luzon against the carriers Essex, Lexington, Princeton and Langley of Task Group 38.3. Princeton was hit by an armour-piercing bomb and burst into flames. At 15:30 the aft magazine exploded, killing 200 sailors on Princeton and 80 on the cruiser Birmingham which was alongside assisting with the firefighting. Birmingham was so badly damaged that she was forced to retire, and other nearby vessels were damaged too. All efforts to save Princeton failed, and she sank at 17:50. Takijiro Onishi was a Japanese general with a especially romantic view on life, being obsessed with self-sacrifice. ... Map of the Philippines showing the island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. ... The seventh USS Essex (CV-9) (also CVA-9 and CVS-9) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier, the lead ship of her class. ... The fifth United States Naval ship named Lexington (CV-16), also known as The Blue Ghost, was laid down as Cabot 15 July 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Co. ... The fourth USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier lost at the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. ... The USS Langley (CVL-27) was an 11,000-ton Independence-class aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1943 - 1964. ... USS Birmingham (CL-62), named for the city of Birmingham, Alabama, was a Cleveland class light cruiser laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Newport News in Virginia on 17 February 1941, launched on 20 March 1942 by Mrs. ...

The battle of Surigao Strait.

Download high resolution version (1000x1493, 182 KB)Battle off Surigao Straight. ... Download high resolution version (1000x1493, 182 KB)Battle off Surigao Straight. ...

Battle of Surigao Strait

Nishimura's "Southern Force" consisted of the battleships Yamashiro and Fuso, the cruiser Mogami, and four destroyers. They were attacked by bombers on October 24 but sustained only minor damage. The Yamashiro (山城) was the Imperial Japanese Navys second Fuso-class battleship, and was laid down at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on November 20, 1913, launched on November 3, 1915, and commissioned on March 31, 1917. ... Fuso (Japanese: 扶桑, an old name for Japan), was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ...

Because of the strict radio silence imposed on the Central and Southern Forces, Nishimura was unable to synchronise his movements with Shima and Kurita. When he entered the narrow Surigao Strait at about 02:00 Shima was 40 km behind him, and Kurita was still in the Sibuyan Sea, several hours from the beaches at Leyte.

As they passed the cape of Panaon Island they ran into a deadly trap set for them by the 7th Fleet Support Force. Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf had six battleships (Mississippi, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, California, and Pennsylvania), eight cruisers (including HMAS Australia and Louisville), 29 destroyers and 39 PT boats. To pass the strait and reach the landings, Nishimura would have to run the gauntlet of torpedoes from the PT boats, evade two groups of destroyers, proceed up the strait under the concentrated fire of six battleships in line across the far mouth of the strait, and then break through the screen of cruisers and destroyers. Jesse Bartlett Oley Oldendorf (16 February 1887 - 27 April 1974) was an admiral in the United States Navy, famous for defeating a Japanese force in the Battle of Leyte Gulf during World War II. Graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1909, he served on cruisers and destroyers before... USS Mississippi (BB-41/AG-128), a New Mexico-class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 20th state. ... USS Maryland (BB-46), a Colorado-class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the seventh state. ... USS West Virginia (BB-48), a Colorado-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 35th state. ... USS Tennessee (BB-43), the lead ship of her class of battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 16th state. ... USS California (BB-44), a Tennessee-class battleship, was the fifth ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 31st state. ... The second USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) was the lead ship of her class of US Navy super-dreadnought battleships. ... HMAS Australia, launched in 1927, was a County-class heavy cruiser in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). ... The third USS Louisville (CA-28) was a Northampton-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy active throughout the Pacific War. ... PT boats in line A PT boat was a motor torpedo boat (hull classification symbol PT), a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. ...

At about 03:00 Fuso and the destroyers Asagumo, Yamagumo, and Mishishio were hit by torpedoes. Fuso was broken in two, but did not sink. Then at 03:50 the battleships opened fire. Radar fire control meant that American battleships could hit targets at distance at which the Japanese could not reply. Yamashiro and Mogami were crippled by 16-inch (406 mm) armour-piercing shells. Shigure turned and fled but lost steering and stopped dead. Yamashiro sank at 04:19. A fire-control system is a computer, often mechanical, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. ...

At 04:25 Shima's force of two cruisers (Nachi and Ashigara) and eight destroyers reached the battle. Seeing what they thought were the wrecks of both Nishimura's battleships (actually the two halves of Fuso), he realized the hopelessness of passing the strait and ordered a retreat. His flagship Nachi collided with Mogami, flooding the latter's steering-room. Mogami fell behind in the retreat and was sunk by aircraft the next morning. The bow half of Fuso was destroyed by Louisville and the stern half sank off Kanihaan Island. Of Nishimura's force of seven ships only Shigure survived. Nachi (那智) was the second of the four-member Myoko class of heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy—the other ships of the class being Myoko, Ashigara, and Haguro. ... The IJN Ashigara (足柄) was the third of the four-member Myoko class of heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy — the other ships of the class being the Myoko (妙高), Nachi (那智), and the Haguro (羽黒). ...

Yamashiro was the last battleship to engage another in combat, and one of very few to have been sunk by another battleship.

Battle off Cape Engaño

The Japanese aircraft carriers Zuikaku, left, and (probably) Zuiho come under attack by dive bombers early in the battle off Cape Engaño.

The Japanese cruiser Oyodo comes alongside the damaged Zuikaku so that Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa can transfer his flag.

The crew of Zuikaku salute as the flag is lowered, and the Zuikaku ceases to be the flagship of the Japanese Navy.

Ozawa's "Northern Force" had four aircraft carriers (Zuikaku — the last surviving carrier of the Attack on Pearl Harbor — Zuiho, Chitose, and Chiyoda), two World War I battleships partially converted to carriers (Hyuga and Ise — the aft turrets had been replaced by hangar, deck and catapult, but neither carried any planes in this battle), three cruisers (Oyodo, Tama, and Isuzu), and nine destroyers. He had only 108 planes. Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku (left center) and (probably) Japanese aircraft carrier Zuiho (right) under attack by U.S. Navy dive bombers during the battle off Cape Engaño, October 25, 1944. ... Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku (left center) and (probably) Japanese aircraft carrier Zuiho (right) under attack by U.S. Navy dive bombers during the battle off Cape Engaño, October 25, 1944. ... Zuikaku (Japanese: 瑞鶴, meaning fortunate crane) was a Shokaku-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Japanese cruiser Oyodo comes alongside the damaged Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku for Admiral Takeo Kurita to transfer his flag in the battle off Cape Engaño, October 25, 1944. ... Japanese cruiser Oyodo comes alongside the damaged Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku for Admiral Takeo Kurita to transfer his flag in the battle off Cape Engaño, October 25, 1944. ... Zuikaku (Japanese: 瑞鶴, meaning fortunate crane) was a Shokaku-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Jisaburo Ozawa (小沢治三郎, Ozawa Jisaburo, 1886 – 1966) was a Japanese admiral during World War II. He was the last commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... The crew Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku salute as the flag is lowered, in the battle off Cape Engaño, October 25, 1944. ... The crew Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku salute as the flag is lowered, in the battle off Cape Engaño, October 25, 1944. ... Zuikaku (Japanese: 瑞鶴, meaning fortunate crane) was a Shokaku-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Zuikaku (Japanese: 瑞鶴, meaning fortunate crane) was a Shokaku-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Zuikaku (Japanese: 瑞鶴, meaning fortunate crane) was a Shokaku-class aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Attack on Pearl Harbor Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date December 7, 1941 Place Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Result Japanese victory On the morning of December 7, 1941, planes and midget submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy commanded by Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, caught the United States off guard with... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... Hyuga (日向), named for Hyuga Province in Kyushu, was an Ise class battleship laid down by Mitsubishi on 6 May 1915, launched on 27 January 1917 and completed on 30 April 1918. ... Ise (伊勢) was the Imperial Japanese Navys first Ise-class battleship, and laid at the Kawasaki Heavy Industries shipyard in Kobe on May 5, 1915, launched on November 12, 1916, and completed on December 1, 1917. ...

On October 24, Ozawa's force was not spotted until 16:40. The Americans were too busy attacking Kurita and dealing with the air strikes from Luzon. On the evening of October 24, Ozawa intercepted a (mistaken) American communication of Kurita's withdrawal, and began to withdraw as well. But at 20:00 Toyoda Soemu ordered all forces to attack. October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ... Soemu Toyoda (豊田副武 Toyoda Soemu, May 22, 1885 - September 22, 1957) was a Japanese admiral of World War II. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1905 and joined the Imperial Japanese Navy and by 1941 had reached the rank of admiral and was commander of the Kure Naval Station. ...

Halsey saw that he had an opportunity to destroy the last Japanese carrier forces in the Pacific, a blow that would completely destroy Japanese sea power and allow the U.S. Navy to attack the Japanese homelands. Believing that Kurita had been defeated by the airstrikes in the Sibuyan Sea, and was retiring to Brunei, Halsey set out in pursuit of Ozawa just after midnight with all three carrier groups and Admiral Willis A. Lee's "Task Force 34" of battleships. Although Kurita's movement toward the San Bernardino Strait had been tracked by scout planes, it seems Halsey was not informed.

The U.S. Third Fleet was formidable and completely outgunned the Japanese Northern Force. Halsey had nine fleet carriers (Intrepid, Hornet, Franklin, Lexington, Bunker Hill, Wasp, Hancock, Enterprise, and Essex), eight light carriers (Independence, Princeton, Belleau Wood, Cowpens, Monterey, Langley, Cabot, and San Jacinto), six battleships (Alabama, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Washington), seventeen cruisers and sixty-three destroyers. He could put more than 1,000 planes in the air. But it left the landings on Leyte covered only by a handful of escort carriers and destroyers. Halsey had taken the bait so temptingly dangled in front of him by Ozawa. The fourth USS Intrepid (CV-11) (also CVA-11 and CVS-11) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. ... The eighth USS Hornet (CV/CVA/CVS-12) was originally named USS Kearsarge, but renamed in honor of the CV-8, which was lost in October of 1942. ... The fifth USS Franklin (CV-13) (also CVA-13, CVS-13, and AVT-8), nicknamed Big Ben, was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, notable as the hardest-hit carrier to survive World War II. Launch and Commissioning; Initial Cruise She was launched by Newport News... The fifth United States Naval ship named Lexington (CV-16), also known as The Blue Ghost, was laid down as Cabot 15 July 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Co. ... USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, nicknamed Holiday Express for her many attacks launched around the end of the year. ... The ninth USS Wasp (CV-18) of the United States Navy was an Essex-class aircraft carrier. ... The fourth USS Hancock (CV-19) of the United States Navy was an Ticonderoga-class aircraft carrier. ... The USS Enterprise (CV-6) was the sixth aircraft carrier of the United States Navy and the seventh US Navy ship of that name. ... The seventh USS Essex (CV-9) (also CVA-9 and CVS-9) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier, the lead ship of her class. ... The fourth USS Independence (CVL-22) (also CV-22) was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier, lead ship of her class. ... The fourth USS Princeton (CVL-23) was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier lost at the battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. ... New Haven (CL-76) was reclassified CV-24 and renamed Belleau Wood 16 February 1942. ... USS Cowpens (CV-25) was an 11,000-ton Independence-class aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1943 - 1947. ... The USS Monterey (CVL-26) was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, in service during World War II and used in training for several years thereafter. ... The USS Langley (CVL-27) was an 11,000-ton Independence-class aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1943 - 1964. ... The second Cabot (CVL-28) was an Independence-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy during World War II. Cabot was laid down as Wilmington (CL-79), redesignated CV-28 on 2 June 1942, renamed Cabot 23 June 1942 and converted while building. ... The second USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) of the United States Navy was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier. ... The third USS Alabama (BB-60) was a South Dakota-class battleship of the United States Navy. ... USS Iowa (BB-61), the lead ship of her class of dreadnought battleship, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy, but second to be commissioned, to be named in honor of the 29th state. ... USS Massachusetts (BB-59), a South Dakota-class battleship, was the seventh ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the sixth state. ... The second United States Navy New Jersey (BB-62), known as Big J, is an Iowa-class battleship that was in service from 1943 to 1991, one of the longest-serving battleships of the 20th century. ... USS South Dakota (BB-57), the lead ship of her class, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 40th state. ... USS Washington (BB-56), a North Carolina-class battleship was the eighth ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 42nd state. ...

On the morning of October 25, Ozawa launched 75 planes to attack the Americans, doing little damage. Most of the planes were shot down by the American covering patrols. A handful of survivors made it to Luzon. October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ...

The American carriers launched their first attack group of 180 aircraft at dawn, before the Northern Force had been located, and the search aircraft made contact at 07:10. At 08:00 the American fighters destroyed the screen of 30 defensive aircraft, and the air strikes began and continued until the evening, by which time the American aircraft had flown 527 sorties against the Northern Force, and sunk three of Ozawa's carriers (Zuikaku, Zuiho and Chiyoda) and the destroyer Akitsuki. The fourth carrier, Chitose, was disabled, as was the cruiser Tama. Ozawa transferred his flag to Oyodo.

With all the Japanese carriers sunk or disabled, the main targets remaining were the converted battleships Ise and Hyuga. Their massive construction proved resistant to the air strikes, and Halsey sent Task Force 34 forward to engage them directly. But then news reached Halsey of the engagement off Samar and that disaster was facing Sprague's Task Group 77.4. He abandoned the pursuit and turned south, detaching only a small force of cruisers and destroyers under Laurence T. DuBose to sink the disabled Japanese ships. Ise and Hyuga returned to Japan, where they were sunk at their moorings in 1945.

Battle off Samar

The battle off Samar.

The Yamato and a heavy cruiser, possibly Tone or Chikuma, in action off Samar.

Kurita passed through San Bernardino Strait at 03:00 on 25 October 1944 and steamed south along the coast of Samar. Download high resolution version (1000x1455, 173 KB)Battle off Samar. ... Download high resolution version (1000x1455, 173 KB)Battle off Samar. ... Japanese battleship Yamato and a heavy cruiser, possibly Tone or Chikuma, in action in the battle off Samar Downloaded from [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Japanese battleship Yamato and a heavy cruiser, possibly Tone or Chikuma, in action in the battle off Samar Downloaded from [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Yamato (大和) was a battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was the lead ship of her class. ... Tone was a heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the lead ship of her class. ... Chikuma was a Tone-class heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy that served in World War II until sunk at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. ... The San Bernardino Strait is a strait in the Philippines. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Samar is an island in the Visayas, which is in the central Philippines. ...

To stop them were three groups of the Seventh Fleet commanded by Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, each with six escort carriers, and seven or eight destroyers and/or destroyer escorts. Admiral Thomas Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.1 ("Taffy 1") consisted of Sangamon, Suwannee, Chenago, Santee, Saginaw Bay, and Petrof Bay. Admiral Felix Stump's Task Unit 77.4.2 ("Taffy 2") consisted of Natoma Bay, Manila Bay, Marcus Island, Kadashan Bay, Savo Island, and Ommaney Bay. Admiral Clifton Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") consisted of Fanshaw Bay, St Lo, White Plains, Kalinin Bay, Kitkun Bay, and Gambier Bay. Each escort carrier carried about 30 planes, making more than 500 planes in all. Escort carriers were slow and lightly armoured and stood little chance in an encounter with a battleship. The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, was a small aircraft carrier developed by the U.S. Navy in the early part of World War II to deal with the U-boat crisis of the Battle of the Atlantic. ... The second USS Sangamon (CVE-26) (originally an oiler designated AO-28, then after conversion AVG-26 and later ACV-26), was one of twelve tankers built on a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design later duplicated by the T3-S2-A1 type, was laid down as Esso Trenton (MC hull... The USS Suwannee (CVE-27) (originally designated as oiler AO-33, reclassified as an escort aircraft carrier as AVG-27 then later as ACV-27) was laid down on 3 June 1938 at Kearney, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. ... The second USS Chenango (CVE-28) (originally designated as oiler AO-21, after redesignation as escort aircraft carrier, was first ACV-28) was launched 1 April 1939 as Esso New Orleans by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. ... The second USS Santee (CVE-29) (originally launched as AO-29, following reclassification as an escort aircraft carrier, was originally ACV-29) was launched on 4 March 1939 as Esso Seakay under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 3) by the Sun Shipbuilding and DryDock Co. ... USS Saginaw Bay (CVE-82) was laid down as MC hull 1119 on 1 November 1943 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. ... USS Petrof Bay (CVE–80) was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Wash. ... USS Natoma Bay (CVE–62) was laid down as Begum (MC hull 1099), 17 January 1943, by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. ... USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) was laid down as Bucareli Bay (ACV-61) under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co. ... USS Marcus Island (CVE-77) was laid down as Kanalku Bay under Maritime Commission contract by Kaiser Co. ... USS Kadashan Bay (AVG-76) was reclassified ACV-76 20 August 1942; reclassified CVE-76 15 July 1943 and launched 11 December 1943 by Kaiser Co. ... The first USS Savo Island (CVE-78), originally Kaita Bay (AVG-78), was reclassified ACV-78 on 20 August 1942 and CVE-78 on 15 July 1943; laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 1115) on 27 September 1943 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. ... USS Ommaney Bay (CVE–79), formerly MC hull 1116, was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 6 October 1943 by Kaiser Company, Inc. ... Vice Admiral Clifton A. F. (Ziggy) Sprague (1889-1955) was a World War II-era officer in the U.S. Navy. ... USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) was a Casablanca-class United States Navy escort aircraft carrier, launched 1 November 1943 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Wash, sponsored by Mrs. ... USS (CVE‑63) was laid down as Chapin Bay 23 January 1943; renamed Midway 3 April 1943; launched 17 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. ... USS White Plains (CVE-66) was laid down on 11 February 1943 at Vancouver, Wash. ... USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68), originally designated an AVG, was classified ACV-68 on 20 August 1942; laid down under a Maritime Commission contract 26 April 1943 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co. ... USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) was a US Navy Casablanca class escort carrier launched on 8 November 1943. ... The USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) was a U.S. aircraft carrier. ...

A mix-up in communications led Kinkaid to believe that Willis A. Lee's Task Force 34 of battleships was guarding the San Bernardino Strait to the north and that there would be no danger from that direction. But Lee had gone with Halsey in pursuit of Ozawa. The Japanese came upon Taffy 3 at 06:45, taking the Americans completely by surprise. Kurita mistook the escort carriers for fleet carriers and thought that he had the whole of the American 3rd fleet under the 18 inch (457 mm) guns of his battleships.

Sprague directed his carriers to turn and flee towards a squall to the east, hoping that bad visibility would reduce the accuracy of Japanese gunfire, and sent his destroyers in to distract the Japanese battleships and buy time. The destroyers attacked the Japanese line with suicidal determination, drawing fire and scattering the Japanese formations as ships turned to avoid torpedoes. Yamato found herself between two torpedoes on parallel courses and for ten minutes she headed away from the action, unable to turn back for fear of being hit. The American destroyers Hoel and Johnston, and destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts were sunk and four others were damaged, but they had bought enough time for Sprague to get his planes into the air. There was no time to reload with armour-piercing bombs, so the planes attacked with whatever they happened to have on board, (in some cases with depth charges). Sprague turned and fled south, with shells falling around his carriers. Gambier Bay, bringing up the rear, was sunk, and most of the others were hit and damaged. USS Hoel (DD-533) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Lieutenant Commander William R. Hoel. ... USS Johnston (DD-557) was a World War II-era Fletcher-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy, named after Lieutenant John Vincent Johnston. ... USS (DE-413) was a World War II-era -class destroyer escort in the service of the United States Navy, named after Coxswain Samuel B. Roberts. ...

It seemed impossible for Taffy 3 to escape total destruction, but at 09:20 Kurita turned and retreated north. The destroyer attacks had broken up his formations, he had lost tactical control, and the heavy cruisers (Chokai, Suzuya, Chikuma) had been sunk by concentrated sea and air attack. Signals from Ozawa had disabused him of the notion that he was attacking the whole of the 3rd Fleet, which meant that the longer he continued to engage, the more likely it was that he would suffer devasting air strike from Halsey's carriers. He retreated north and then west through the San Bernardino Strait under continuous air attack. Nagato, Haruna and Kongo were severely damaged. He had begun the battle with five battleships; when he returned to Japan, only Yamato was combat-worthy. Chokai was a Takao-class heavy cruiser, armed with ten 8 guns, eight 5 guns, sixteen torpedo tubes and assorted anti-aircraft guns. ... Chikuma was a Tone-class heavy cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy that served in World War II until sunk at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. ...

Aftermath

The battle of Leyte Gulf secured the beachheads of the U.S. Sixth Army on Leyte against attack from the sea. Much hard fighting would be required before the island was completely in Allied hands at the end of December 1944. The US Sixth Army was activated in January 1943, commanded by Lieutenant General Walter Krueger. ... Battle of Leyte Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date October 20, 1944 – December 31, 1944 Place Leyte, Philippines Result American victory The Battle of Leyte in the Pacific campaign of World War II was the invasion and conquest of Leyte in the Philippines by American and Allied forces under...

The battle destroyed Japanese naval power, and opened the way for the advance to the Ryukyu Islands in 1945. The only significant Japanese naval operation in the rest of the war was the disastrous Operation Ten-Go in April 1945. The Ryukyu Islands (琉球列島 Ryūkyū-rettō) are an island group, the southern portion belonging to Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and the northern part belonging to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. ... 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Operation Ten-Go Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 7 April 1945 Place Pacific Ocean, between Japan and Ryukyu Islands Result American victory Operation Ten-Go (天号作戦 ten-gō sakusen) was a Japanese naval operation in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Following the invasion of Okinawa on...

As the battle was coming to an end, Vice Admiral Takijiro Onishi put his "Special Attack Force" into operation, launching kamikaze attacks against the Allied ships in Leyte Gulf. On 25 October Australia was hit for a second time and forced to retire for repairs, and the escort carrier St. Lo was sunk. Takijiro Onishi was a Japanese general with a especially romantic view on life, being obsessed with self-sacrifice. ... October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 67 days remaining. ... USS (CVE‑63) was laid down as Chapin Bay 23 January 1943; renamed Midway 3 April 1943; launched 17 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. ...

Criticism of Halsey

Halsey was criticized for his decision to take Task Force 34 with him in pursuit of Ozawa, and for failing to dispatch it when Kinkaid first appealed for help. US Navy slang for Halsey's action has ever since been Bull's Run, a pun on Halsey's nickname "Bull" Halsey and the Battles of the Bull Run in the Civil War. In his dispatch after the battle, he justified the decision as follows: Bull Run can refer to one of two conflicts during the American Civil War: First Battle of Bull Run Second Battle of Bull Run It can also refer to the source of water for Portland, Oregon, the Bull Run Watershed. ...

Searches by my carrier planes revealed the presence of the Northern carrier force on the afternoon of 24 October, which completed the picture of all enemy naval forces. As it seemed childish to me to guard statically San Bernardino Strait, I concentrated TF 38 during the night and steamed north to attack the Northern Force at dawn. I believed that the Center Force had been so heavily damaged in the Sibuyan Sea that it could no longer be considered a serious menace to Seventh Fleet.

Clifton Sprague, commander of Task Unit 77.4.3 in the battle off Samar, was later critical of Halsey's decision: October 24 is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 68 days remaining. ...

In the absence of any information that this exit [of the San Bernardino Strait] was no longer blocked, it was logical to assume that our northern flank could not be exposed without ample warning.

Naval historian Samuel Morison wrote:

If TF 34 had been detached a few hours earlier, after Kinkaid's first urgent request for help, and had left the destroyers behind, since their fueling caused a delay of over two hours and a half, a powerful battle line of six modern battleships under the command of Admiral Lee, the most experienced battle squadron commander in the Navy, would have arrived off San Bernardino Strait in time to have clashed with Kurita's Center Force.... Apart from the accidents common in naval warfare, there is every reason to suppose that Lee would have crossed Kurita's T and completed the destruction of Center Force.

A message from Nimitz asking for the location of Task Force 34 led to ill-feeling between him and Halsey, owing to a misunderstood piece of security padding (see "the world wonders"). In cryptography, padding is the practice of adding material of varying length to the plaintext of messages. ... The world wonders was padding added by a radioman to a US Navy message from Admiral Chester Nimitz to Admiral William Halsey, Jr. ...

References

• Samuel Eliot Morison, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, vol 12, Leyte
• Thomas Cutler, The Battle of Leyte Gulf: 23–26 October 1944

Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison, USNR (July 9, 1887 - May 15, 1976) was an American historian, notable for producing both authoritative scholarship and highly readable, an ability recognized with two Pulitzer Prizes. ... The History of United States Naval Operations in World War II is a 15-volume account of the United States Navy in World War II, written by eminent historian Samuel Eliot Morison and published by Little, Brown between 1947 and 1962. ...

External links

• "Turkey Trots to Water" (http://www.battleship.org/html/Articles/History/Leyte0.htm) — detailed description of the battle from battleship.org
• Orders of battle: Sibuyan Sea (http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Sibuyan_Sea.htm), Surigao Strait (http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Surigao-Strait.htm), Cape Engaño (http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Cape_Engano.htm), Samar (http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Samar.htm).
• "Glorious Death: The Battle of Leyte Gulf" (http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/leyte_gulf.htm) by Tim Lanzendörfer
• battle-of-leyte-gulf.com  (http://www.battle-of-leyte-gulf.com/)
• Detailed timeline of the battle off Samar (http://www.bosamar.com/bosintro.html) by Robert Jon Cox
• Return to the Philippines (http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/PTO/Philippines/index.html): public domain documents from ibiblio.org