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.