neil hilton wrote:jesse espinosa wrote:the battle leyte gulf maybe an engagement but it could be and exception from other naval
engagement. first, in the american side, the seventh fleet and third fleet primary aim is
to guard the landing invasion in leyte. second, japanese side, the northern force and southern
force primary aim is to to lure the seventh fleet and third fleet out of position in order the
central force can wreck havoc of the americans landing force and remaining american naval
forces guarding the landing force. Therefore, both forces have the same aim, control of
leyte gulf. Further, with the massive array of naval ships of both sides those not make the battle
of leyte gulf as mere engagement. in addition the japanese plan that their 3 fleets will coincide
their attack of the their on the same date was not materialized its because of miscommunication
of the japanese commanders particularly of their central and southern force. it is only the
japanese northern force that really serve their purpose as decoy.
again unlike any other naval battles were tactics is really used, it is only in leyte gulf all ships
in all kinds were engage. pt boats, submarines, destroyers, cruisers, battleships and all
kinds of aircrafts carriers were used. further engagements ships against planes, planes
against planes, ships against ships, in vast array were used. no question the battle of
leyte gulf is the greates naval warfare in history.
If you can classify Leyte Gulf as a battle by the strictures listed here then by those same points the battle of the Atlantic would also be classed as a battle rather than a campaign. And the battle of the Atlantic makes Leyte Gulf look like a mere skirmish in all respects.
IMO Leyte Gulf is a campaign, like the battle of the Atlantic and should not be listed here.
Battle of Leyte Gulf a mere skirmish??? Dont think So..Ok statistics shows battle wagons assembled by americans and japanese:
1. Americans: 8 fleet carriers, 8 light carriers, 18 escort carriers, 12 battleships, 24 cruisers, 141 destroyers, a number of PT boats and submarines and 1,500 carrier planes
2. Japanese: 1 fleet carrier, 3 light carriers, 9 battlerships, 14 heavy cruisers, 6 light cruisers, 35 destroyers, more than 500 planes land based and carriers planes
Not even in world war 1 or world war 2 including the Battle of Atlantic and Invasion of Normandy or int the present times that such naval forces were assembled.
Losses in the battle:
1. Americans: 1 light carrier, 2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 escort destroyer, 200 planes and 3,000 dead
2. Japanese: 1 fleet carrier, 3 light carriers, 3 battleships, 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers, more than 500 planes land based and carrier and 10, 500 dead
No naval battle or campaign in world war 1 and world war 2 can compare of the combined losses of men and tonnage in Leyte Gulf
Further, i still believe that Leyte Gulf is not a mere campaign. The battle started in October 23 when U.S. submarines of U.S. 7th fleet ambushed the Japanese Central Force in Palawan Passage, October 24 Japanese Central Force attack by U.S. third fleet carriers planes turned back but later on proceed to its destination to proceed to San Bernardino Strait which is already unguarded by u.s. third fleet, thinking the central force turned tail and in full force proceed to attack the japanese northern force not knowing its a decoy. October 25, the u.s seventh fleet thinking the third fleet has left a task force to guard San Bernardino Strait proceed to meet the Japanese Southern Force and ambush it at surigao strait. In October 25, the Japanese Central Force entered San Bernardino Strait unopposed and attack the u.s. seventh fleet escort carriers sinking 2 escort carriers and 3 destroyers but admiral kurita mis judge the situation withdrew, thinking he was attacked by third fleet carrier planes when in fact the escort carrier planes are not armed with armored piercing shells.
I emphasized these series of events to show to you that the battle of leyte gulf is not a 3 separate campaigns but a continuing battle based of the strategy plan of the japanese and the americans for "CONTROL OF LEYTE GULF".Although it happened in three dates and locations but its still one battle.