Today is the 65th anniversary of the beginning of The Battle of Leyte Gulf. The battle lasted from October 23rd to 26th, 1944 and was the largest naval battle in history. Japanese forces suffered over 10,000 casualties and lost the majority of their fighting ships.
Japan had already been defeated for all intents and purposes at the Battle Of Midway in May of 1942 (only five months after Pearl Harbor). By 1944 Japan had less aircraft than the US allies had naval vessels.
When the Allies invaded Leyte in the Phillipines on October 20, 1944 to isolate Japan from its fuel supplies, Japan threw all remaining resources into the fight. The battle saw the first use of organized attacks by Kamikaze aircraft.
By the end of the battle the Japanese Navy no longer existed in any cohesive fighting form.
Watch the Battle of Leyte Gulf from NBC's Victory At Sea Series (click here to watch at YouTube in High Quality):
Friday, October 23, 2009
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