Leyte Gulf 1944 (1) by Mark Stille & Jim Laurier

Author:Mark Stille & Jim Laurier
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472842824
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2021-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

THE BATTLE OF THE SIBUYAN SEA

By October 23, three major IJN formations had been spotted heading toward Leyte, confirming that a major Japanese effort was underway. Despite his best efforts to make the Americans aware of his presence, Ozawa’s carrier force had yet to be detected. Halsey initially doubted that the Japanese would mount a major operation in response to the American invasion. When the Japanese did just that, Halsey did not have TF 38 in the best position to respond. Halsey ordered TG 38.2, TG 38.3, and TG 38.4 to be ready to launch search aircraft and strikes on October 24. Of these, only TG 38.2 would be in an immediate position to strike Kurita’s force. TG 38.1 was still on its way to Ulithi to replenish until being recalled on the morning of October 24.

Reformed after the debacle in the Palawan Passage, the First Diversion Attack Force entered the Mindoro Strait. An American submarine spotted Kurita’s force after midnight on October 24 but could not make an attack. Just after 0800hrs, search aircraft from TG 38.2 reported Kurita’s force south of Mindoro. Halsey waited only five minutes after receiving the contact report to issue orders to the Third Fleet for operations on October 24. Because TG 38.3 was too far north and TG 38.4 was too far south to immediately strike, TG 38.2 carried the initial burden for striking Kurita’s force. This was not an ideal situation since TG 38.2 was the weakest of Halsey’s four task groups with only fleet carrier Intrepid and light carriers Cabot and Independence. TG 38.2’s actual striking power was further reduced since Independence’s air group was dedicated to night operations and it played no role in the series of attacks launched during the day. At 0910hrs, TG 38.2 opened the largest air–sea battle in history up to that point with the launch of its first strike.

After being spotted by USN carrier aircraft, Kurita ordered his formation to increase speed to 24 knots and prepare for air attack. When no attack developed, the formation reduced speed and resumed zigzagging. A series of radar contacts on aircraft were reported over the next two hours. At 1000hrs a radar contact was gained on a large formation to the east. At 1025hrs, aircraft were sighted to the south. This was TG 38.2’s first strike of the day. It was comprised of 45 aircraft—21 Hellcats, 12 Helldivers, and 12 Avengers. Most came from Intrepid, with ten Hellcats and four Avengers from Cabot. Commander William E. Ellis, the commander of Intrepid’s air group, led the combined strike.

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