------

I loAGl CAIJOIII _ Cl tlJ 111V1 fAt Ht ASniuPTY (P VrAV INf InT e610~ DUlW lD JVM ~AJb)(16 ) llNI1IU T1ES l Anl-(( UT

11II1UJ 11 I ()P z I c-Serial 00 It8

Fr CIID Th6 Comnandor nIlHD Flout To The COIlICaJlder in hief United State Floetbull bull Via Tho Ccmrandor in Chief United state~ Paclt1c Fleot

and Paci1c Ocean Ar as

Subj ect Action Report - Period 23-26 October 1944J botb dat inclusive

Reterence () Paaiic Fl~et Cont Letter ~C~ (b) CincPoa dispatch 251935 October

poundncloeure (A) All IDeSBamppoundO P rtaining to ~~Dat oporation3 received ~r or1 gl1 t d by Cocm11ljor l11thJ) F ot duri g the period 3shyZb Oetobor 1944 both dnt J 1nclu1vo IT~ times - p

( B) DlJp tcho ot -All (10 nunn and s-rmnl Fleot WIImampIshy

1zing 1 r ation 24~6 Ooto~r 1914bullbull f i lC) TrACk Chart -I (D) Compoaitior 0 (Wll Foreoo 23-26 Octob r 19l1 bull ~

-- (E) Repor t or dNampg Qym Forcoe 2)-26 Octob r 1944-p 0 (F) umary ot ut t lmiddotnl1I -It )lriDonna 01 WIfr _ p I

1 n 8 Action ClpOrt covers tho 01 mt1ons ot th n1mo Flett ltdnt t1 J4PQllOCO 1middot _ during tho JQr ad )-26 Octo ur 1141 1ncluolvbullbull II cOlpli~ce with OUlllllLlc r in Cui pound U5 PadIia Flu t di P lcb 251935 it contoiJu copiotJ of ill meeoagtus ~rtni n~ to conbat opor4tio IS for thh

o-1od It 115 vlTitten trom tho viow-point of tho ConntIder THIRD Fle to and o~ deal with tho 6 83p eta of the enga~emon~ that woro ot primary conco~ to tho Fleet C~d r preliminary to and uring tho t t~ e lorebullbull were in contact and iIIIcdiat ly ~tor contact WampI lest

2 o t aila r uport d by ubordin to COIllnlClctora in their Action lwshyport ill be th BubJoct or appropli to CClIIlmOnt by olldor onon

3 For purpooec of ilitntitc tiOI the enemy oarrj r toree will be eallod the rorlhllrn Forco tho tOrro t h4t Dortied through S arnnrdino Strnu tha C-- tr 001 ond ih8 force that enterod Sur1c 0 Strait [oem th we hard the s uthorn Force ill timoo are 1m

J n 23 Octobor 1944 rom tho mulliplicity ot aighting report and 1Jtolligonc r ports frem other sourc If i t weviJnt t hat the land1nga (In Leyte hLod pruvoked a violont Naction Md that the ellOq W48 pr pnrinC to mako a major stand of somo sort in th Philippinue The oncmy int~t wu not clear but hia Nported naval movements on tbe 23rd detill1te~ oonstituted an

119117 1 238 ~-

- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - -- ---

nu UNnEU STATE~ PA(UoI FLEETU6-)(16)

TKIllD lltLEET Serial - ~ -shy

Subject AItion aport - Period 2)-26 Octobn 1944 botl date

inclusive

irJIcd1atll thr nt Co=-ander TIlUD Fleet decided to initi ate carrier eearchu 10 obtain earliest inorlLlti~n or any etl~ ~v~ent toward Leytbullbull

5 Atter nearly wo cJ 0 intos sive operations ampi lit Cldnallu ForlOs 11 luzcn dll of the carr Gr f~O p3 needed rlar-~ excopt for torshy

iOt5 a d tor tho JP an SAP bobs habtua1ly reserve f or use t6ain3t cobatshynt ~ ip Cre eroup Talk rroup 381 ha becn Gto~ed toward Ulith1 00 23 Cktober Tas C u~ 382 J8~3 Wld 3Sl~ ere med1ately availanle

6 On the niht 23-24 Octo e roU~3 382 38 3 aud 381 re ve clO~8 to the Phi11 pine coast preliminary to launchin care 83 Taslc

G 1- 33 3 Wa~ plncc eJSt of Polillo l slt1d to cover the ~ellt Coast of Luzon Tul Gro P )32 ms placed close to ~an Bernardino trlitsj and Tuk Croup 384 In 3 ~lt to Ie vicnity of Surigao Str_its

7 At dn 24 October c teams each conaisting ot Helle toa ald H lldver wero launch d to cover t t 0 ~t Coas~ of luon ad the Sulu ea ar d it s Rro-che3 TIe sector rere aa shom on Track Ch~ EncIo ~e (C) rne weatLer p-s tavor-ble for ge~ch arlU trike o~erationB At 01346 (24) la3k Group 3 1 w ordered to plt nbout ~d jJoceed to -d - flc1in~ r endezvous wi th Taak til it )084 end 30138 in a-i udc 15 LonClt de l~ at 07oJ (25)

t 0 10 2Jth 3e cit p1enes frum Ta9k r up J9t _ middothted the Cente orce in Laticude 12-14 I Loncitude 121-)2 ~ on course 015 ~pcod lB i1s force ~ in t to rours h COl osition of the first frcu s rej)orted 3 2 13 or 4 ~ or CL ~d 6 GO te second rUorten to contain 2 ~ or J t 0 C lIfIU 7 J Ino Ct uor

r 1 (1 rt on It middot J wch f u ICj O-i C1t 00 2 or middotinntcd ltJ1 nt pt ~h ( 23middot) to 1F J~ CTr Y~ 3 and j )8 ~ Anei the UIU

e lees lvin~ the co tact co positio eurO(1 ana tTpe1 n 9 ms follo shy~Zl b bull u gent diBp te rutructllC ok Grol p 33 and k Cr oup ~C4

to conepnt~_ 2 toar T k Croup 33 2 a be~t sp OG d to strik t de terce bull

-t (f)u 2 h tho TCUlK rOUF 3S lo earch intercepted nnd att eked ~ I I CA 4 DD Ilt t til de 08-5) Lon itud() 121-50 south e t of

r ~ 2 rch t~c r rtlG2 bo) hiL) in e eh B rocket is on I and Z DO tne hn vy strafinG ot athor JjO It as decided to adhere to tho decision to h vo ~ 384 c1 bull TG 382 and to f1t11t hr t to the Center F)rce 0 l tl tr ption that S 1 ntut torce could tallt car ot the s er ut hem -orc bull

- 2 shy

---------------- - --------- ------- ------ -

nu Al6-3(16)

Sorial middot ~

bull bull ~

i bull

NITED ITATEi PAC IFl flllIm Lf~ET

FU~ET

rr

Subject Action Report -- Period 2 26 Oct ober 1944 both dateD inclusive

lO Analysis subsequent to the op ration and statements ot rotS rec~v red f rOD the water indicato that the CQnt~r Force cont~ampd 5 SB (y~ ll~ASHI nATO KOmiddotro HARUlA) 7 C (CHOMI hMrtJRC lOKO KUwO Slwn Tebull CHIhUUA) 1 CL (IIOSHIRO) 13 DD Reports ur 2-3 ampdd1t1onal CL CampMot be reconciled S~e encl~ u s (F) for info~tion concorning composition ot Southern Force amplo encl osure (F ) concerning f ate of ATAnO and JUIA The probroble mcveshyments of TAKAO are Itioned in paracraph 40 ot this r eport

li lIe enemy react ed by UWlching a vicious air attack ains t TaLk Group 383 Pror to he enent attack our forces shot dOllU 40 plan s About 110 planes nere shot do around T~sk Group 363 but the pnnzro lt14 I it hard Task Group 38 3 was delayed in complying with the order to concontnte by Ntcoverr of s~arch ard at tack groupe and by offorts t o assiat tho burr~ PRD~~~ bull Lll II RRISOI and ntIN idle 6BsietinG PRINC~roi Wuru boilly ~ed

when tho PRJ C~TOJ III alt er uagadne8 blew up Lator in t h da in order to b f~e to lLJve tcmard the encnv Northern Force PRI CETOI was eW1k and BlhlJlIj(itWruu N GTLIJG and mal were 8eft t o Ullthi f Jr r pairs and tor hoapitBlloashy

tiOD or tho wound d

12 At trois t iJne it as evidont that th Japanese ~avy was maldng a Jlajor effort whether Cor di ct attack cr transpoItjnc troops or botti was not appltlrfll t f t hie wac to bo an all-out ttaclt by tho Japanese Fleet there wus one piece missing in t he puzzle - the carrier3 They were believed t o bcve been in th Spire i and there had been s i ghtings and intelliampence r eports which indishycated that repl eois1llent measures might have bpen t aKen for some iJDport3Jlt QOve shymont frOll mpire wat~r8 Althouamp~ our 5ubnuu-inel stationed 1r ~pire waters had not reported a carrl~r force it was felt t hut they ~cre aure to e emplo1~d in some mannor i n ary operation amp3 great as that reve3led on tho morning of the 24th COlJe~ucDtly a search t o the north by our carrier pllltle was order elj and at l64O ItaaL a search plane fr Task Group Je3 r eported a f orce at Latitud~ 18-10 N Longitude 12~-JO r course 210 spoed 15 (The Northern Force)

13 Alnplifying 18POrt5 of this Northam Fr-lmiddotce varied In his 240817 CTF 38 listed this fGrce a s 3 CV J-4 heavy cruisers and 6 DO at Lati tude 18-10 ~ Longitude 125-JO L COlllse 210 spcd 15 and ampStat ed that ODe or t he enomy carriers WaD an lSE claaJ CTF 3S I a 240942 dispatch etated that pilots who had had a good l ook reportei 2 SHOKAKU CV 1 ~VL 3 CL and J DO on course 270 epeeci 15 at Latitude 18-25 tl Lorgit ude 125-28 g t l b40 Item whil a t Latitude 18-lO N Lorgj tudo 125-)0 E nre 4 BB or CA 5 cru1s raJ 6 DD on eou-ee 210 epoed 15 at 1540 ItClll Ono ot the BB watt r port d to hoyg a t tit ci ck alt At 1600 Item 2 DD wor r orL d by amp oarrier aearob plan at ~t1tud 19-40 N Lo~tud~ 123-00

cour 240 paed 12 Comman r TH P1et oono1uJ that it N01~hrD roro

3 - 3 shy

--- - ---------- - - - -- -- - - ---- -- - - - - - -

ONIT1) 1-11-1 lAc middot IC tmiddotIl~Imiddot1middot lHUW 1UtT

Serial ~

Subjeot Action Report - eriod )-26 October 1944 both datu illcluelvo

was disposod in twc groups estimated to c ntuin amp total of at leaat 17 shipl and pobullsibly a my amp5 24 ships

Lh A curious pcint was agtparvnt rOOD the oontact reports of the thNe ~orces thor ere pil proceeding at deliber te spetd and it Was infornd teat tlore was a predctez-dned f ocus of geogrAphical l ocation and time be moveillluts inUicAted that a carefulJy worked-out coordinated J paneee plan wu in motion with 25 October amp8 the earlies t date of p~ed concerted action

15 Thr ughout the day (24th) carrior 6trik~ had boon l aunched againlt the C~ntor F r~e and all reports injicatoQ that the Center Force xu bftshyin efiectivob end bcnrllY dOJl~ In t ho face of th S8 continutid trik II the ~~nter Force k~pt co~n6 with a detcn~ation that commanded r spect By duuk the ollolfinr BUlaro ud been Nvortod At 10Q8t 4 Md probably 5 BB t rp4Idoed IIlol oJb d one probJhly Junk aWliuI or3 how) cruieur torpod d d other bctbudj 1 CL ounk 1 DO flunk 1 DO prob bly wUc iUld 4 d ode

l lJ TOoIk Orout) J~z ui1J A tlllnl of l4o II rtiou ciro OU J tone ot b ftlbs anj~ torped-gteJ r oport the DB YAUlQ dll ~od by J torpedo hita amprother YAAro B8 (pOS~ibly sale me) by 1 torpedo hit and 2 boobe j 1 IAG~ro as hit by 1 torp~do and 1 boilij 1 KOI UO BB by 2 torpodoes ~ld 6 bOlrbs 1 CA UXiOO possibly surJe by torpedo hit 1 CA 1nI hit by 1 t orpedo 1 CA ros hit by I torpEdo Task Group )83 reported 1 SB badly hit damagin 2 others uld 4 CA and 2 IL danaged i n the center Force Task Group 384 reported 1 BB(llJS 17) hit by t rpedo afire down at boll and probably sunk 1 i~ BB 1 to 3 torpeGoe 2 bomb hits 1 OGO BB 1 bomb hit cruiser damaged 1 CL surliltj 1 DD sunk 1 00 probabl sunk 4 OD daJt36ed Sam details or t he o middot~going inform lion wore not available at d~~k but flash reporte indicated beyond doubt t hat the Center Force had been badly mauled with all of itt sa and moJt of its CA tremandoUl~ reducEd in rightinG power and illebull

bull 7 Although the ~enter Forco continued t o ~ove forward tho CoMmander THIRD Fleet decided t11lt this enelll1 forco must be bl1ndly obeyingmiddot an Imperial C~~ to c O O~ die but with battle efficiency crently impaired by torpedo hita bOollb hits 100 ide d~e tires and QilSuGlti8S From 1 Ji~ experience with th J aps their blind udheronce to plan an( t hu inability to readjuat disturbed plans tho C dar THkRD Fleet had l ong ago aJoptod policy or att eking lust The S~uthern and e nter Forces hwd been or neavy and rsiltont air attack while proceudin6 throueh inland atera tn ~ vllght Jap doggtldnozsa waa adIdttod and Co~der TtURO FIe t ~cognized the posoi~1llty that tho ~ ntor For e might plod thro~ Sal Bernardino Straits and on to atlyenck ~yte oro$t a 1amp Guadamplshycanal but CQCIIIIIamplder THIIUgt Fleet WUI c()Ilv1ncod that the Center Force waa 0

- 4 shy

nLE Al6-3(lb ) U~llED bull TATES It Clnc ET

lIlltD IJET Serial

bull

-Subject Action Report - Period 2j-2b October 1944 bot b d tee

inclusive - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - ~ - - - - ~ - shy

heavily 18llOgod th t it could not win amp decision while th possibl 1II11dmll

strength of t he r~orth rn Forcd as reportud by CTF )8 ~42 corutitut d re b and po~errul throat It was decided that earli et poosibl ttack on the ~rshyul ort ern (carrier) Foreo was esaential tor crealdfl6 up tntl on rq plan and r tampinin~ th initiative

18 ho alto rnnt1vo3 re to

Ca ) Oivido ihe f ONdS le ving n 34 to blOltk San l3oernu-lino Str ttl whih tho carriero rith 11 t screen3 attoclcod tho torthern Fore

(b ) laintUn lntuerity t our own ntiro etr11dng e~neth cone ntrated ot Stan Bern~din Strtrlts i

(e ) Strik) the Northorn Forco nth ill ot our OIffl striking tr ngth conc (tNtoe ald 18 YO 3M Bornar~o Strnit Wl6lIUdod

( 4) WampI rIlJetod the potonti-l trength of the lnd~ud t orthern Force s too gNIt to lonvu UlJIlOl eJmiddotod and rtl ulrinf IT 34 t o ell( ~ the Co t)r Force wbib at t he aTe time e gtosud to attI ( by lwd-based llJld poaaibly car rier-b- cd amp1r nttllek H 10 not sound n1is alt rn t1vo 8PN our atrangth nnd r1~ced Wlprat1t shynblo cW 3 1n detail

(b ) Wn8 rujoc t ed beOlse it enUtted tho lorthorn Force to tunotion plampnuud UIlillOlosted aId cause dODtruotion of J ane onrri t f oroe llh)uld llUL t)

utue operations

( 0 ) Wa) oo~ptodi it mnintunud thu 1nto r1ty of tho Bluo IItrikine fle t it oUtJr d gteJt poooibllity of 9ur prisIl nnd de lruoJUcn or middot n cCUri r for ce I t 3 particularly ound and nOCOS li Gry it the strebullbullcth or th t- orth n l For prav d to be t he rxiJJUm reported It lIaJ rtcool1~ed th t the Conter For~e ght ortie and inflict sane d~e but its righting POfOr was considered too 3eriously 1JDshypaired t) win a docision Finally i t B3 calculated that the Third Flout tl~ colJld retu-n in t1ma t o N Vllrae any ndvant86e that the Centor Force mig bull alJl and Comoandcr TtURD Floot ~ t1IDly convt bull ed that (c) woul~ oont ribut melT to th over-all Phillppine lJ campai611 even U a temporamprily t1gh~ 8ituation exbted at L8yte

19 It was hard deoision to mak~ and having mad i t caaander

- s - 5

middot

PlU

Al6-J(16) NI1ED STAT~S IA(IFI( IT Tlium -IEET

Serial It

bull Subject Action Report - Pedod 23-26 October 1944 both dates

inclusive

- --- -- -- - - -- - - -- - - - --- - -- - - -- - - - - - - rlIiU) Fleet was gravely concer~led Wltil he received word that til Centtmiddot Forae hai given up in the fac e of the valiant efforts of the ssvrnt fleet CV-~ groupa

20 At 2022 Task Groups ]82 ) 83 and 84 wera given ordors to assemble und mlke nibht run toward torthern Force prep41 tory to dawn nttack The Jap Imer s b~ to shuttle froZl carrier-to-targ t-to-ai rfield and all ot Coanander THIRD r eet 1W1s had f or weeks been predicate on denyilog t be ~ that advantage b) closing promptly

21 At 20)0 and 2145 (24th) the C ntor Force las 6noo~d by aD INIET1)iCE WeN) north of )asb~te on various courses and trailing 1IOUC~r--_

22 DurinC t he run north care wnJ taiten not t o overrwl the dqli ~t

circle of th No-tho-o Force 6J t o ao so would vlace t he rorthorn Forc bet n ask Force )3 and Leyte By dayliGht Tl1Jk Force J4 was f OIlOlamplt1 up uhead of middothe carrier groups to provide t or coorUinated air and surf ace attack on the tortbe m Force

23 Dawn searches were laWlched and strike groups put in t he all r ampdT t ogt hit as aoon as contact was mlda The lorth rn Force wu looated 10 Latitl ~ ~e Id-37 N Lon itudo 126-45 E at 07)0 I tem on courae ~80 spood 20 and the til to strikes proeeod~i ~t once

24 In the ~antimCJ Task Gr up ~ 1 nad put about and at 0700 (25) waa in Latituc 15 N Lonampitude 130 E roody t o fuel fron Task Units )v 64 and 3088 Task uroup J81 WQ3 ordered to a ~on~ t ho searches trom Tank Groupa 38 2 )8) and 384 to 8851at in locatint the Northern Force and to obtUn positi~ or negative inIormation concerning any en~ forces to the eas~war bull

25 lbe torthern Force was oaught by urprise J but omnander TH11LD F1eampt was paz1ed by the fact thnt the N ere scarcelv any planes on middotbe do of I or in t~e air near the enemy lONe I and no sign ot bogies aoWld oW 0IUl

f orce Later in the morning large bogies were picked up on t he aCTeen appro~hshying trom the south the did not attack and it is belie d that tbey J U1Oe of t he enemy carrier groupe ferrying out to the carriero WULlmed an-i arl1fing tuo late

26 The first etrike on the Northern Forc r eultod in tb t lI l6 reported damamp6e 1 CV hit by a t orpedc and J bOlllbsj 1 CVL exploded aM ~ 1 CA aire troa bQDb hita i 1 DD hit Tuk Foro 34 was ac1nnoed tor the ldll

-6 shy

-1pound

Al6-J(16) N11ED STATE~ IAClFJ( ~JEET

lnLRD LEET SerieJ

Subjec Action Repol~ -- Period 23-26 October 1944 both dates inclusive

~ - -- - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - --- - -- - - shy27 In his dil)patchbs 242225 242227 2422) and 242J29 Co3udor

SVru Flaeot aalte ureent appeals for help tho S=VamplH Fle t CVtJwere u~er gunfiru llttack f r om the snter FOl ~ and under an attack fron porJist t and suicidal IliON-I3l~U 3ir fore bull Although Task Fore 34 0)3 within 42 ci l es ot t c ripgtled l~orthrn Force) olllJlJ1lder nURD Flout at ill5 turred Task Croup 382 pl us ~AjHl~GiO LAD~ usS~liUS3TT3 and SOUTH DAKOT lSolth d diopatchud Task Group 4 5 Relr ~ra1 dt~ur in 10 r~j J~Y VI ~ ~ AIil IsIlOIl and DesRor 52 dhuatl at hiGh spe~ d to t e 6681 3 rce of the ~ ~iI1I Fl e t tor e

28 TG )8 1 was dir cted to strike the enemy Conter Force and to proceed to a ssist S~ ~TIi Fl~et forces

29 Task Groups )8~) 011 4 )84 (le56 detached elecents ) continued attacs or the ortneril Forts and CorSubPac urdor d threo packs o ~ubciarireJ too tcJe POSl tion botween 120 E and ]2$ E to c t of eneq Ntreat Cruisers l d destrogt ers cf the carrier 170llPS under Rear AtlIdr al Du Bose inc1udiT16 the S JiU FS 05IIE iICiUTA l1 OHZAJ and a dozen do stroyers lit after th cri 1 The ort ~rn Force is nOTI evaluated to Mve consisted of 1 CV (ZUIlAKU) 3 eVL (HITGSE CilIYODi and ZUIHO - or possibly RIUHO instead) 2 BB-I CV (ISE and linGA) 1 CA (possibly II3UlI or t((il) 4 CL (OlCDO or pos3ibly YAHAGI NJ~A A AbUhU1A and KISO 6 DO including prob~ly 3 T~UKIs

JO ihe liorth rn Force sustained the t ollawirl6 losses and damage at tho hall s of TIiIFD Fleet torces 1 CV (ZUIKMU) SUIlk J CVL (CrrITOSE CIUYOOA and ZUlHC) aunk 1 Jr or 00 wd 1 0 sw-k 1 CL poDD1bl1 sunk 2 BS-XCV (ISE and HroGA) duZ140d or y at lerut 2 and probubly 4 lorp does and borLbj 1 ct d~Ge by soveral u~ 1 CL d~ d by sevornl bombsS 1 CL lorp dod and later ~unk bJ submurineoj 2 00 h avily etrared

31 Roaches Raiders and Cl6X~y8 Crushers had form d in two g roup in Latitude 21 N Longitude 125-30 E - l2h-)O E and Latitudo 21 N Jongitude 127 E - l2S B respectively and caused further damoge to fleeing remnants ot t he llorthern Force

32 In tho ID9antiJe Tfh1le Task Group 3132 and Task Group 345 were Iampovint t o the southrard at best speed to reinfor ce the S~1nl Fleet the 6D8DI7 Center Force broke off the engagement with tho SEVZITH Fleet eVEs and r tired tltTtlard ~an Bernardino Straits The reaso G for uovement s of the Ce1ter Force betresn 0924 and lj10 are not cl(1ar At 1046 ~ 77 r eported tho enemy rvt1rinamp northeal but accordinb to later report~ T r ito3 on course 150

0 at 1055 and

225) at 1145 llen the 3trike rc1l Task Group )8 1 renched tho Cent r Force at 1310 he was on course 010 chaubed to 090 and then through ~70o to the r ight t 000 tt l3~0 the Center Force vrs in Latitude 11-46 l~ mgltude 126-16 E aDV1t

13 lti1ell West of his reported ct722 position During tbia period h$ had been 1 mi 11 j ng around in the eampmO general areaj he ailed to overwhelm tbe cn grcupe

- 7 shy

ILe

l ~1TED STATE~ PA IflC LEET TllmD FLEET

- - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - --- - - shybull

1 I

u6-3(16) UNITED STATE PACIFIC LEJT THum 11EET

Serlal shy- shy

ubject Action Report -shyinc1us ve e - - shy - - - - - shy

eriod

- - shy23-26 Oct

- - - - shyober

- shy1944 bot h

- - shy - - shydatos

- - shy - - shy - -~ It is believed thlt thE olbrln1 ship of t he Cent)r Force

finally asca~d into the China amp0 4 BB (Y middotTO lAJTO KOIJQO and HAHUIA) all heatily dat13ged 4-5 CA IHlm~ damiddotlBLltld 1-2 CL 7- 9 DO Frar the afternoon or the bulloth although BBs Tier sight ed by Far ustern tir Fo-ce planes no IOlOrft than 3 13amp v~re report t d t oocther and it is possibll t hlt one KOIj(J() ra hav dropped out and possibly s ampnk The rof st~ted thlt TArAO had been torpedoe on 23 October by Blue submarine) and had w-opped back analy8if of sub ecuent sightirqs indicated that TAKAO may have joined vi eat ot PauulM Oll l he ~th and may have bt-en one of the 4-5 CA that finally esc d

41 For the pur poses of t is report the action with t he Japaoeoe Fleclt i) consid6re to have t errlillGted at 2400 Hem 2b October 1944 I regr4tshyfully r 3port U e loss of t he PRIliCETO and of 40 planes in c bat and 10 operoti mally (incomplete ro~ort) ytdch can be r6placed With t ar deeper regret I have ~eco1ved the reports of the irrepurable loss of the gallant ottic ro an4 ~n who have given their lives to our CUlsa

42 This report does Dot include any nttempt at detailed analybis the d~Ands ~f continuing opera~ion3 preclude any sucn attempt here That must be done by 1tencies havi1lb the neces~3lY tille per$onnel and acilltio bull -Lessons learned will be derived froa the Action Reports of subordinate COJIIMnCer or d1scuse~d in 3cparate corrospondence Suffice it t o I~ here that

(a) ~ommunications were generally excellent considering tbe fo rce iDvol vedj

(b) Contact reports were well handled from the Fleet CommLnder st andpoint

(0 ) The ~et~c~ed departure of the orthern For ce [rUM the Empire aTld its anobserved approach to the Philippines was surpris ing it is preswII8d tht S UbJlalindS 8tationod close to the Japanese Coast were pinned down b1 shorc-bas6d air

(d) Results of air attacks on enemy oombatant ships (other than onemshyc lrr1ers) were disappointi~ Aside f rom the ruggdDess ot J apanese shipe contr~but1ng factors may h ave been (1) pilot tatig~e ater prolonged operations (2) tendency f or pilots to go art r cripples rather than unshydamaged sbipa (3) poor t orpedo perro~oo or too hallow depth Bttini

- 9 shy q J

LI I r

U~ITED STATES P elFIe LEET J

~ - 1 I TIIlRD FLEET

r-shy-y-e--- - shy-uec la

I-~

oj J

I bull

~ u S c bull

i

-ot forever

Co ircr

(1 -shy-

0

u6-3(16) UNITED STATE PACIFIC LEJT THum 11EET

Serlal shy- shy

ubject Action Report -shyinc1us ve e - - shy - - - - - shy

eriod

- - shy23-26 Oct

- - - - shyober

- shy1944 bot h

- - shy - - shydatos

- - shy - - shy - -~ It is believed thlt thE olbrln1 ship of t he Cent)r Force

finally asca~d into the China amp0 4 BB (Y middotTO lAJTO KOIJQO and HAHUIA) all heatily dat13ged 4-5 CA IHlm~ damiddotlBLltld 1-2 CL 7- 9 DO Frar the afternoon or the bulloth although BBs Tier sight ed by Far ustern tir Fo-ce planes no IOlOrft than 3 13amp v~re report t d t oocther and it is possibll t hlt one KOIj(J() ra hav dropped out and possibly s ampnk The rof st~ted thlt TArAO had been torpedoe on 23 October by Blue submarine) and had w-opped back analy8if of sub ecuent sightirqs indicated that TAKAO may have joined vi eat ot PauulM Oll l he ~th and may have bt-en one of the 4-5 CA that finally esc d

41 For the pur poses of t is report the action with t he Japaoeoe Fleclt i) consid6re to have t errlillGted at 2400 Hem 2b October 1944 I regr4tshyfully r 3port U e loss of t he PRIliCETO and of 40 planes in c bat and 10 operoti mally (incomplete ro~ort) ytdch can be r6placed With t ar deeper regret I have ~eco1ved the reports of the irrepurable loss of the gallant ottic ro an4 ~n who have given their lives to our CUlsa

42 This report does Dot include any nttempt at detailed analybis the d~Ands ~f continuing opera~ion3 preclude any sucn attempt here That must be done by 1tencies havi1lb the neces~3lY tille per$onnel and acilltio bull -Lessons learned will be derived froa the Action Reports of subordinate COJIIMnCer or d1scuse~d in 3cparate corrospondence Suffice it t o I~ here that

(a) ~ommunications were generally excellent considering tbe fo rce iDvol vedj

(b) Contact reports were well handled from the Fleet CommLnder st andpoint

(0 ) The ~et~c~ed departure of the orthern For ce [rUM the Empire aTld its anobserved approach to the Philippines was surpris ing it is preswII8d tht S UbJlalindS 8tationod close to the Japanese Coast were pinned down b1 shorc-bas6d air

(d) Results of air attacks on enemy oombatant ships (other than onemshyc lrr1ers) were disappointi~ Aside f rom the ruggdDess ot J apanese shipe contr~but1ng factors may h ave been (1) pilot tatig~e ater prolonged operations (2) tendency f or pilots to go art r cripples rather than unshydamaged sbipa (3) poor t orpedo perro~oo or too hallow depth Bttini

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