Leyte Gulf, Battle of the

In World War II, US naval victory over Japan 17-25 October 1944, to the east of the Philippines. The biggest naval battle in history, involving 216 US warships, 2 Australian vessels, and 64 Japanese warships, it resulted in the destruction of the Japanese navy.

The battle involved 216 US warships, 2 Australian vessels, and 64 Japanese warships. There were a number of separate actions as elements of these forces met and diverged, but the overall result was the destruction of the Japanese Navy; they lost some 500 aircraft, 3 battleships, 4 carriers, 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers, and 1 submarine. Of the surviving Japanese warships, few if any had escaped damage. In contrast, the Americans lost 3 light carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 destroyer escort, and 200 aircraft. While the naval battle was raging, General Krueger landed the 6th US Army on Leyte island, which was secured 25 December 1944.