The Battle of Leyte Gulf

Pilots!

This mid-week historical special is dedicated to the Battle of Leyte Gulf, probably the biggest naval battle of World War II. In October 1944, this massive clash in the Philippines between the US and the Japanese Empire forces largely determined the outcome of the war in the South Pacific. Today, we honor the memory of the brave men and women who fought and died in this encounter by telling you their story.

Event Begins: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 23:00 PDT (02:30 EDT)

Event Ends: Saturday, October 26, 2013 at  22:30 PDT (01:00 EDT)

Discounts

• 50% Token and Credit Discount on Consumables

Bonuses

• 20% Additional Credit Earnings on All Tier IV and V Planes

After their initial success at Guadalcanal in 1942 and subsequent advance in the first battle in the Philippines around the Northern Mariana Islands in the summer of 1944, the Americans had established a dominant position in the South Pacific. Having suffered painful losses, the Imperial Japanese Navy was largely depleted of capable ships, aircraft and pilots. It was forced to retreat and assume a defensive position, trying to save what little it had left. To add insult to injury, Japanese forces heavily relied on their established supply routes from captured territories in the Philippines and Taiwan. These became increasingly difficult to defend against the well-supplied U.S. forces.

Knowing they had their opponent on the ropes, President Roosevelt and his trusted military advisers decided to attack the weakest link in the Japanese defense line. General Douglas MacArthur was designated to lead the charge and overtake the Central Philippine Islands by launching an amphibious attack on Leyte Island. The landings were backed by the 7th Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid and the 3rd Fleet under the command of Admiral William Halsey. The Fleets were supposed to circle the gulf and provide air support with their prolific F4F and F4U fighters.

Although the Japanese leadership knew that their naval forces couldn't match the American juggernaut, they felt that they had no other choice but to try to repel the invasion. Retreating from the Philippines would have meant a slow but inevitable defeat. Blinded by propaganda about the strength of their own spirit, the Japanese hoped to overcome the numerical and technological odds and stop the Americans in their tracks. This would give them more favorable conditions to open the door for an honorable peace. So, they mustered up all their available battleships, carriers, aircraft and military personnel and met the U.S. fleet in the Gulf of Leyte with full force.

The action began on October 23 and lasted four days. There were four major battles, involving over 200 warships, thousands of planes and more than 200,000 sailors and airmen. The Japanese managed to sink a couple of U.S. ships, mostly by using desperate kamikaze attacks, which were employed for the first time during this conflict. However, they failed to inflict enough damage to stop the American advance. Being severely outnumbered, the Japanese lost 4 aircraft carriers, 3 battleships, 8 cruisers, 12 destroyers, almost 400 planes, and 10,000 men. At the same time, Allied losses were much lighter – 3 carriers, 3 destroyers and 200 planes, with a total of around 2,500 casualties.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the last straw for the once mighty Imperial Japanese Navy. After this third failed attempt to turn the course of the war in the South Pacific, it never sailed again in comparable force. Most of what remained of the Japanese fleet, deprived of fuel, remained in its bases until the end of the war.