JAPANESE FORCES

CENTER FORCE
    VADM T. Kurita

First Section
    VADM Kurita

Battleship Division 1
    VADM M. Ugaki

BB YAMATO—RADM N. Morishita
 two bomb hits, one near miss; nine casualties and 3000 tonnes of flooding
BB MUSASHI—RADM J. Inoguchi
 struck by twenty torpedoes and seventeen bombs, near-missed by 18 bombs; sunk
 1023 dead of her 2399 personnel
BB NAGATO—RADM Y. Kobe
 two bomb hits, aft turret and four secondary guns disabled

Cruiser Division 4
CA CHOKAI—CAPT K. Ariga

Cruiser Division 5
    VADM S. Hashimoto
CA MYOKO—CAPT H. Ishiwara
 hit by one torpedo, speed cut to 15 knots
forced to withdraw, Hashimoto’s flag transferred to Haguro
CA HAGURO—CAPT K. Sugiura

Destroyer Squadron 2
    RADM M. Mayakawa
CL NOSHIRO—CAPT S. Kajiwara
DD SHIMIKAZE

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
 

Second Section
    VADM Y. Suzuki

Battleship Division 3
    VADM Suzuki
BB KONGO—RADM T. Shimazaki
BB HARUNA—RADM K. Shigenaga
 minor bomb damage

Cruiser Division 7
    VADM K. Shiraishi
CA KUMANO—CAPT S. Hitomi
CA SUZUYA—CAPT W. Takahashi
CA CHIKUMA—CAPT S. Norimitsu
CA TONE—CAPT H. Mayazumi

Destroyer Squadron 10
    RADM S. Kimura
CL YAHAGI—CAPT M. Yoshimura
DD NOWAKI
DD KIYOSHIMO
detached to rescue Musashi survivors and transport them to Manila

Destroyer Division 17
    CAPT T. Tanii
DD URAKAZE
DD YUKIKAZE
DD HAMAKAZE
 detached to rescue Musashi survivors and transport them to Manila
DD ISOKAZE

AMERICAN FORCES

THIRD FLEET (TASK FORCE 38)
(Elements of TF 38 flew 259 sorties against Kurita’s Center Force. On this day, Japanese land-based bombers sank Princeton and damaged Birmingham.)

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 Squadron 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
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

Sources:
Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by Lacroix and Wells
Battleships:  Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II by Garzke and Dulin
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
Battle History of the IJN by Dull