AMERICAN FORCES
SEVENTH FLEET FORCES
TASK GROUP 77.4 (ESCORT CARRIER GROUP)
RADM T. L. Sprague
TASK UNIT 77.4.1 (TAFFY ONE)
RADM T. L. Sprague
Carrier Division 22
RADM T. L. Sprague
CVE-26 SANGAMON—CAPT M. E. Browder
CVEG-37—LCDR S. E. Hindman
12 F6F-3, 5 F6F-5—LCDR S. E. Hindman
9 TBM-1C—LCDR P. G. Farley
CVE-27 SUWANNEE—CAPT W. D. Johnson
CVEG-60—LCDR H. O. Feilbach
22 F6F-3—LCDR H. O. Feilbach
9 TBM-1C—LT W. C. Vincent
CVE-28 CHENAGO—CAPT G. Van Deurs
CVEG-35—LCDR F. T. Moore
22 F6F-3—LCDR F. T. Moore
9 TBM-1C—LT C. F. Morgan
CVE-29 SANTEE—CAPT R. E. Blick
CVEG-26—LCDR H. N. Funk
24 FM-2—LCDR H. N. Funk
6 TBF-1C, 3 TBM-1C—LCDR T. M. Bennett
Carrier Division 28
RADM G. R. Henderson
CVE-82 SAGINAW BAY—CAPT F. C. Sutton
VC-78—LCDR J. L. Hyde
15 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-80 PETROF BAY—CAPT J. L. Kane
VC-76—CDR J. W. McCauley
16 FM-2
10 TBM-1C
Screen
CAPT I. H. Nunn
DD-534 MCCORD—CDR F. D. Michael
DD-530 TRATHEN—CDR J. R. Millett
DD-531 HAZELWOOD—CDR V. P. Douw
DE-406 EDMONDS—LCDR J. S. Burrows
DE-402 RICHARD S. BULL—LCDR A. W.
Gardes
DE-403 RICHARD M. ROWELL—CDR H.
A. Barnard
DE-404 EVERSOLE—LCDR G. E. Marix
DE-217 COOLBAUGH—LCDR S. T. Hotchkiss
NOTE: CHENANGO, SAGINAW BAY, EDMONDS and
OBBERENDER departed for Morotai at 1645 on 24 October. The two CVEs were
carrying “dud” aircraft from the CVEs for transfer ashore. They returned
with replacement aircraft after the battle.
TASK UNIT 77.4.2 (TAFFY TWO)
RADM F. B. Stump
Carrier Division 24
RADM F. B. Stump
CVE-62 NATOMA BAY—CAPT A. K. Morehouse
VC-81—LCDR R. C. Barnes
16 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-61 MANILA BAY—CAPT F. Lee
VC-80—LCDR H. K. Stubbs
16 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
Carrier Division 27
RADM W. D. Sample
CVE-77 MARCUS ISLAND—CAPT C. F. Greber
VC-11—LCDR T. O. Murray
12 FM-2
11 TBM-1C
CVE-76 KADASHAN BAY—CAPT R. N. Hunter
VC-20—LCDR J. R. Dale
15 FM-2
11 TBM-1C
CVE-78 SAVO ISLAND—CAPT C. E. Ekstrom
VC-27—LCDR P. W. Jackson
16 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-79 OMMANEY BAY—CAPT H. L. Young
VC-75—LT A. W. Smith
16 FM-2
11 TBM-1C
Screen
CAPT L. K. Reynolds
DD-555 HAGGARD—CDR D. A. Harris
DD-554 FRANKS—CDR D. R. Stephan
DD-556 HAILEY—CDR P. H. Brady
Escort Division 60
CDR T. C. Pifer
DE-342 RICHARD W. SUESENS—LCDR R.
W. Graham
DE-343 ABERCROMBIE—LCDR B. H. Katschinski
DE-344 OBERRENDER—LCDR S. Spencer
DE-414 LERAY WILSON—LCDR M. V. Carson
DE-412 WALTER C. WANN—LCDR J. W.
Stedman
TASK UNIT 77.4.3 (TAFFY THREE)
RADM C. A. F. Sprague
Carrier Division 25
RADM C. A. F. Sprague
CVE-70 FANSHAW BAY—CAPT D. P. Johnson
VC-68—LCDR R. S. Rogers
16 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-63 ST LO—CAPT F. J. McKenna
VC-65—LCDR R. M. Jones
17 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-66 WHITE PLAINS—CAPT D. J. Sullivan
VC-4—LCDR E. R. Fickenscher
16 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-68 KALININ BAY—CAPT T. B. Williamson
VC-3—LCDR W. H. Keighley
16 FM-2
1 TBF-1C, 11 TBM-1C
Carrier Division 26
RADM R. A. Ofstie
CVE-71 KITKUN BAY—CAPT J. P. Whitney
VC-5—CDR R. L. Fowler
14 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
CVE-73 GAMBIER BAY—CAPT W. R. Vieweg
VC-10—LCDR E. J. Huxtable
18 FM-2
12 TBM-1C
Screen
CDR W. D. Thomas
DD-533 HOEL—CDR L. S. Kintberger
DD-532 HEERMAN—CDR A. T. Hathaway
DD-557 JOHNSTON—CDR E. E. Evans
DE-405 DENNIS—LCDR S. Hansen
DE-339 JOHN C. BUTLER—LCDR J. E.
Pace
DE-341 RAYMOND—LCDR A. F. Beyer
DE-413 SAMUEL B. ROBERTS—LCDR R.
W. Copeland
Lee’s Battle Line, thought by some to be
guarding San Bernardino Strait: 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.
Ship’s involved in “Bull’s Run”: BB IOWA,
NEW JERSEY; CL BILOXI, VINCENNES, MIAMI; DD OWEN, MILLER, THE SULLIVANS,
TINGEY, HICKOX, HUNT, MARSHALL, LEWIS HANCOCK.
JAPANESE FORCES
FIRST STRIKING FORCE
VADM T. Kurita
Battleship Division 1
VADM M. Ugaki
BB YAMATO—RADM N. Morishita
BB NAGATO—RADM Y. Kobe
Battleship Division 3—VADM Y. Suzuki
BB KONGO—RADM T. Shimazaki
BB HARUNA—RADM K. Shigenaga
Cruiser Division 5
VADM S. Hashimoto
CA HAGURO—CAPT K. Sugiura
CA CHOKAI—CAPT K. Ariga
Cruiser Division 7
VADM K. Shiraishi
CA KUMANO—CAPT S. Hitomi
CA SUZUYA—CAPT W. Takahashi
CA TONE—CAPT H. Mayazumi
CA CHIKUMA—CAPT S. Norimitsu
Destroyer Squadron 2
RADM M. Hayakawa
CL NOSHIRO—CAPT S. Kajiwara
DD SHIMAKAZE
Destroyer Division 2
CAPT N. Shiraishi
DD HAYASHIMO
DD AKISHIMO
Destroyer Division 31
CAPT T. Fukuoka
DD KISHINAMI
DD OKINAMI
Destroyer Division 32
CAPT K. Aoki
DD HAMANAMI
DD FUJINAMI
Destroyer Squadron 10
RADM S. Kimura
CL YAHAGI—CAPT M. Yoshimura
DD NOWAKE
Destroyer Division 17
CAPT T. Tanii
DD URAKAZE
DD ISOKAZE
DD YUKIKAZE
Note: Only Japanese ships operating with the Center Force as of midnight October 24-25, 1944 are listed.
Sources: History of U. S. Naval Operations
in WW II, Vol 12, Leyte by S. E. Morison
The Little Giants—US CVEs against
Japan by W. T. Y’Blood