United States Forces
THIRD FLEET (TASK FORCE 38)
TASK FORCE 38
VADM M. A. Mitscher
TASK GROUP 38.1
VADM J. S. McCain
CV-18 WASP—CAPT O. A. Weller
CVG-14 Embarked—CDR W. C. Wingard
VF-14—LCDR R. Gray
33 F6F-3
3 F6F-3N
2 F6F-3P
14 F6F-5
1 F6F-5N
VB-14—LCDR J. D. Blitch
25 SB2C-3
VT-14—LCDR H. S. Roberts
5 TBF-1C
1 TBF-1D
11 TBM-1C
1 TBM-1D
Total: 96 A/C
CV-12 HORNET—CAPT A. K. Doyle
CVG-11 Embarked—CDR F. R. Schrader
VF-11—LCDR E. G. Fairfax
11 F6F-3
2 F6F-3N
1 F6F-3P
21 F6F-5
2 F6F-5N
3 F6F-5P
VB-11—LCDR L. A. Smith
25 SB2C-3
VT-11—LCDR R. Denniston
1 TBF-1C
17 TBM-1C
Total: 83 A/C
CV-19 HANCOCK—CAPT F. C. Dickey (attached
from TG-38.2 from 10/22 to 10/26)
CVG-7 Embarked—CDR J. D. Lamade
VF-7—LCDR L. J. Check
37 F6F-5
4 F6F-5N
VB-7—LCDR J. L. Erickson
30 SB2C-3
12 SB2C-3E
VT-7—LCDR C. B. Marshall
18 TBM-1C
Total: 101 A/C
CVL-26 MONTEREY—CAPT S. H. Ingersoll
CVG-28 Embarked—LCDR R. W. Mehle
VF-28—LCDR Mehle
21 F6F-5
2 F6F-5P
VT-28—LT R. P. Gift
9 TBM-1C
Total: 32 A/C
CVL-25 COWPENS—CAPT H. W. Taylor
CVG-22 Embarked—LCDR T. H. Jenkins
VF-22—LT L. L. Johnson
25 F6F-5
1 F6F-5P
VT-22—LCDR Jenkins
9 TBF-1C
Total: 35 A/C
Cruiser Division 6
RADM C. T. Joy
CA-45 WICHITA—CAPT D. A. Spencer (to TG-58.4
10/21)
Cruiser Division 10
RADM L. J. Wiltsie
CA-69 BOSTON—CAPT E. E. Herrmann
CA-70 CANBERRA—CAPT A. R. Early (damaged,
detached 10/15)
CL-81 HOUSTON—CAPT W. W. Behrens (damaged,
detached 10/15)
CL-53 SAN DIEGO—CAPT W. E. Mullan
CL-95 OAKLAND—CAPT K. S. Reed
Cruiser Division 5
RADM A. E. Smith
(CruDiv 5, DesRon 4 formed TG-30.2 on
10/6, joined TG-38.1 10/16)
CA-24 PENSACOLA—CAPT A. P. Mullinnix
CA-25 SALT LAKE CITY—CAPT L. W. Busbey
CA-27 CHESTER—CAPT H. Hartley
Destroyer Squadron 46
CAPT C. F. Espe
DD-589 IZARD—CDR M. T. Dayton
DD-581 CHARRETTE—LCDR G. P. Joyce
DD-582 CONNER—CDR W. E. Kaitner
DD-587 BELL—CDR J. S. C. Gabbert
DD-588 BURNS—CDR J. T. Bullen
DD-651 COGSWELL—CDRR. E. Lockwood
DD-650 CAPERTON—CDR G. K. Carmichael
DD-652 INGERSOLL—CDR A. C. Veasey
DD-653 KNAPP—CDR W. B. Brown
DD-544 BOYD—CDR U. S. G. Sharp
DD-547 COWELL—CDR C. W. Parker
DD-546 BROWN—CDR T. H. Copeman
Destroyer Squadron 12
CAPT W. P. Buford
DD-488 MCCALLA—LCDR E. Vinock
DD-435 GRAYSON—CDR W. V. Pratt
DD-460 WOODWORTH—CDR C. R. Stephan
Destroyer Squqdron 4
CAPT H. P. Smith (TG-30.2)
DD-384 DUNLAP—LCDR C. R. Welte
DD-385 FANNING—CDR J. C. Bentley
DD-370 CASE—LCDR R. S. Willey
DD-365 CUMMINGS—LCDR W. J. Collum
DD-372 CASSIN—CDR V. J. Meola
DD-375 DOWNES—CDR R. S. Fahle
Task Group 38.2
RADM G. F. Bogan
CV-11 INTREPID—CAPT J. F. Bolger
CVG-18 Embarked—CDR W. E. Ellis
VF-18—LT E. J. Murphy
36 F6F-5
5 F6F-5N
3 F6F-5P
VB-18—LCDR M. Eslick
28 SB2C-3
VT-18—LCDR L. W. VanAntwerp
18 TBM-1C
Total: 90 A/C
CV-17 BUNKER HILL—CAPT M. R. Greer (Detached
for Major Overhaul 10/23)
CVG-8 Embarked—CDR R. L. Shifley
VF-8—CDR W. M. Collins
27 F6F-3
14 F6F-5
4 F6F-3N
4 F6F-5N
VB-8—LCDR J. D. Arbes
17 SB2C-1C
3 SBF-1
SBW-1
VT-8—LCDR K. F. Musick
17 TBM-1C
2 TBM-1D
Total: 88 A/C
CVL-28 CABOT—CAPT S. J. Michael
CVG-29 Embarked—LCDR W. E. Eder
VF-29—LCDR Eder
3 F6F-3
18 F6F-5
VT-29—LT J. H. McPherson
1 TBF-1C
8 TBM-1C
Total: 30 A/C
CVL-22 INDEPENDENCE—CAPT E. C. Ewen
CVG(N)-41 Embarked—CDR T. F. Caldwell
VFN-41—CDR Caldwell
3 F6F-3
2 F6F-5
14 F6F-5N
VTN-41—LCDR W. R. Taylor
8 TBM-1D
Total: 27 A/C
Battleship Division 7
RADM O. C. Badger
BB-61 IOWA—CAPT A. R. McCann
BB-62 NEW JERSEY—CAPT C. F. Holden
Cruiser Division 14
RADM F. E. M. Whiting
CL-64 VINCENNES—CAPT A. D. Brown
CL-89 MIAMI—CAPT J. G. Crawford
Destroyer Squadron 52
CAPT J. P. Womble
DD-536 OWEN—CDR C. B. Jones
DD-535 MILLER—LCDR D. L. Johnson
DD-537 THE SULLIVANS—CDR R. J. Baum
DD-538 STEPHEN POTTER—CDR L. W. Pancoast
DD-539 TINGEY—CDR J. O. Miner
Destroyer Division 104
CAPT W. T. Kenny
DD-673 HICKOX—LCDR J. H. Wesson
DD-674 HUNT—CDR H. A. Knoertzer
DD-675 LEWIS HANCOCK—CDR W. M. Searles
DD-676 MARSHALL—CDR J. D. McKinney
Destroyer Squadron 50
CAPT H. B. Jarrett
DD-686 HALSEY POWELL—CDR S. D. B. Merrill
DD-797 CUSHING—CDR F. L. Volk
DD-658 COLAHAN—CDR D. T. Wilber
DD-687 UHLMANN—CDR S. G. Hooper
DD-796 BENHAM—CDR F. S. Keeler
Destroyer Division 106
CAPT B. F. Tompkins
DD-683 STOCKHAM—CDR E. P. Holmes
DD-684 WEDDERBURN—CDR C. H. Kendall
DD-540 TWINING—CDR E. K. Wakefield
DD-541 YARNALL—CDR J. H. Hogg
Task Group 38.3
RADM F. C. Sherman
CV-9 ESSEX—CAPT C. W. Weiber
CVG-15 Embarked—CDR D. McCampbell
VF-15—LCDR J. F. Rigg
22 F6F-3
3 F6F-3N
2 F6F-3P
23 F6F-5
1 F6F-5N
VB-15—LCDR J. H. Mini
25 SB2C-3
VT-15—LCDR V. G. Lambert
15 TBF-1C
5 TBM-1C
Total: 96 A/C
CV-16 LEXINGTON—CAPT E. W. Litch
CVG-19 Embarked—CDR T. H. Winters
VF-19 LCDR F. E. Cook
14 F6F-3
2 F6F-3N
2 F6F-3P
23 F6F-5
1 F6F-5N
VB-19—LCDR R. McGowan
30 SB2C-3
VT-19—LCDR F. C. Perry
18 TBM-1C
Total: 90 A/C
CVL-23 PRINCETON*—CAPT W. H. Buracker
CVG-27 Embarked—LCDR F. A. Bardshar
VF-27—LCDR Bardshar
18 F6F-3
7 F6F-5
VT-27—LCDR S. M. Haley
9 TBM-1C
Total: 34 A/C
CVL-27 LANGLEY—CAPT J. F. Wegforth
CVG-44 Embarked—CDR M. T. Wordell
VF-44—CDR Wordell
19 F6F-3
6 F6F-5
VT-44—LCDR E. F. Craig
9 TBM-1C
Total: 34 A/C
Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet
VADM W. A. Lee CTF-34
when formed
BB-56 WASHINGTON—CAPT T. R. Cooley (to
TG-38.4 10/23)
Battleship Division 8
RADM G. B. Davis
BB-59 MASSACHUSETTS—CAPT W. W. Warlick
Battleship Division 9
RADM E. W. Hanson
BB-57 SOUTH DAKOTA—CAPT C. B. Momsen (to
TG-38.4 10/28)
BB-60 ALABAMA—CAPT V. R. Murphy (to TG-38.4
10/23)
Cruiser Division 13
RADM L. T. DuBose
CL-60 SANTA FE—CAPT J. Wright
CL-63 MOBILE—CAPT C. C. Miller
CL-62 BIRMINGHAM—CAPT T. B. Inglis (damaged,
detached 10/24)
CL-96 RENO—CAPT R. C. Alexander
Destroyer Squadron 50
CAPT C. R. Todd
DD-668 CLARENCE K. BRONSON—CDR G. Scull
DD-669 COTTON—CDR P. W. Winston
DD-670 DORTCH—CDR R. E. Myers
DD-671 GATLING—CDR A. F. Richardson (detached
10/24)
DD-672 HEALY—CDR J. C. Atkeson
Destroyer Squadron 55
CAPT A. E. Jarrell
DD-682 PORTERFIELD—LCDR D. W. Wulzen
DD-792 CALLAGHAN—LCDR C. M. Berthof
DD-793 CASSIN YOUNG—CDR E. T. Schrieber
DD-794 IRWIN—CDR D. B. Miller (to TG-38.4
10/23)
DD-795 PRESTON—CDR G. S. Patrick
Destroyer Division 110
CDR M. Van Metre (to
TG-38.4 10/23)
DD-558 LAWS—CDR L. O. Wood (to TG-38.4
10/23)
DD-559 LONGSHAW—CDR R. H. Speck (to TG-38.4
10/23)
DD-560 MORRISON—CDR W. H. Price (to TG-38.4
10/23)
DD-561 PRICHETT—CDR C. T. Caulfield (to
TG-38.4 10/23)
Task Group 38.4
Rear Admiral R. E.
Davison
CV-13 FRANKLIN—CAPT J. M. Shoemaker
CVG-13 Embarked—CDR R. L. Kibbe
VF-13—CDR W. M. Coleman
1 F6F-3
1 F6F-3N
30 F6F-5
1 F6F-5N
4 F6F-5P
VB-13—LT C. A. Skinner
31 SB2C-3
VT-13—LCDR L. C. French
18 TBM-1C
Total: 86 A/C
CV-6 ENTERPRISE—CAPT C. D. Glover
CVG-20 Embarked—CDR D. F. Smith
VF-20—LCDR F. E. Bakutis
35 F6F-5
4 F6F-3N
VB-20—CDR M. E. Riera
34 SB2C-3
VT-20—LCDR S. L. Prickett
19 TBM-1C
Total: 92 A/C
CVL-30 SAN JACINTO—CAPT H. M. Kernoodle
CVG-51 Embarked—CDR C. L. Moore
VF-51—CDR Moore
14 F6F-3
5 F6F-5
VT-51—LCDR D. J. Melvin
7 TBM-1C
Total: 26 A/C
CVL-24 BELLEAU WOOD—CAPT J. Perry
CVG-21 Embarked—LCDR V. F. Casey
VF-21—LCDR Casey
24 F6F-5
1 F6F-5P
VT-21—LCDR R. A. Kennard
9 TBM-1C
Total: 34 A/C
CA-32 NEW ORLEANS—CAPT J. E. Hurf
CL-80 BILOXI—CAPT P. R. Heineman (to TG-38.2
10/22)
Destroyer Squadron 6
CAPT V. D. Long
DD-401 MAURY—CDR J. W. Koenig
DD-380 GRIDLEY—CDR P. D. Quirk
DD-388 HELM—CDR S. K. Santmyers
DD-400 MCCALL—LCDR J. B. Carroll
Destroyer Division 12
CAPT K. F. Poehlman
DD-389 MUGFORD—CDR M. A. Shellabarger
DD-386 BAGLEY—CDR W. H. Shea
DD-392 PATTERSON—LCDR W. A. Hering
DD-390 RALPH TALBOT—L CDR W. S. Brown
Destroyer Division 24
CAPT A. J. Greenacre
DD-441 WILKES—LCDR F. E. McEntire
DD-442 NICHOLSON—CDR W. C. Bennett
DD-443 SWANSON—LCDR W. K. Ratliff
NOTES:
Ships designated by ADM Halsey as to form
the Battle Line TF-34 under VADM Lee in a message sent 0240 25 October:
BB IOWA, NEW JERSEY, WASHINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SOUTH DAKOTA ALABAMA; CA
WICHITA, NEW ORLEANS; CL VINCENNES, MIAMI, BILOXI, SANTA FE, MOBILE; DD
CLARENCE K. BRONSON, COTTON, DORTCH, HEALY, PORTERFIELD, BAGLEY,
PATTERSON
The run south to San Bernardino Strait
was made by the following ships: BB IOWA, NEW JERSEY; CL BILOXI, VINCENNES,
MIAMI; DD OWEN, MILLER, THE SULLIVANS, TINGEY, HICKOX, HUNT, MARSHALL,
LEWIS HANCOCK.
Surface actions executed by RADM Du Bose’s
TG-30.3: WICHITA, NEW ORLEANS, SANTA FE, MOBILE, CLARENCE K. BRONSON, COTTEN,
PATTERSON, BAGLEY, DORTCH, HEALY, COGSWELL, CAPERTON, INGERSOLL, KNAPP.
JAPANESE MAIN BODY (NORTHERN FORCE)
MOBILE FORCE
VADM J. Ozawa
Carrier Division 3
VADM Ozawa
Combined Air Groups:
80 A6M5 Zero
4 B5N Kate
25 B6N Jill
7 D3Y Judy
CV ZUIKAKU*—RADM Takeo Kaizuka*
struck by seven torpedoes and nine bombs
843 dead, 862 survivors
CVL ZUIHO*—CAPT K. Sigiura
hit by at least two torpedoes and six
bombs, plus many near misses
CVL CHITOSE*—CAPT Y. Kishi
sunk by air attack with 903 dead
CVL CHIYODA*—CAPT Eiichiro Jyo*
crippled by four bombs, finished off by
gunfire
1470 dead—all hands
Carrier Division 4
RADM C. Matsuda
No Aircraft Embarked
BBCV HYUGA—RADM T. Nomura
negligible damage from near misses
BBCV ISE—RADM N. Nakase
negligible damage from near misses
CL OYODO—CAPT Kakuro Mutaguchi
minor damage from two rockets and a near-miss
bomb
8 dead, 12 wounded
CL TAMA*—CAPT G. Matsuda*
damaged by aerial torpedo, sunk by three
hits from submarine JALLAO
all hands lost
Escort Squadron 31
RADM Hyotaro Edo
CL ISUZU—CAPT G. Matsuda
slight damage from air attack, 13 dead
Destroyer Division 61
CAPT Shigetaka Amano*
DD HATSUZUKI*(F)—CDR Kanematsu Hashimoto*
sunk by gunfire, all hands lost
DD AKITSUKI*—CDR Tomoe Ogata
sunk by an aerial torpedo
DD WAKATSUKI—CDR Yasuatsu Suzuki
Destroyer Division 41
CAPT Kiichiro Wakida
DD SHIMOTSUKI (F)—CDR Kenji Hatano
Destroyer Division 43
DE MAKI
DE KIRI
DE KUWA
DE SUGI
Second Supply Force
DD AKIKAZE—LCDR Nitaro Yamazaki
Escort Vessel 22
Escort Vessel 29
Escort Vessel 31
Escort Vessel 33
Escort Vessel 43
Escort Vessel 132
AO JINEI MARU*
AO TAKANE MARU
*Sunk or lost in this action
Sources:
History of U. S. Naval Operations in WW
II: Vol 12, Leyte by S. E. Morison
The Battle of Leyte Gulf by C. Vann Woodward
The Fast Carriers by C. G. Reynolds
Admiral Halsey's Story by W. F. Halsey
and J. Bryan
Battle History of the Imperial Japanese
Navy by Paul S. Dull
Nihon Kaigun web site
Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by
Lacroix and Wells