Table of Contents
Why was the battle off Samar important?
The Battle off Samar has been cited by historians as one of the greatest last stands in naval history; ultimately the Americans prevailed over a massive armada—the Japanese Imperial Navy’s Center Force under command of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita—despite their very heavy casualties and overwhelming odds.
Why is Taffy 3 important?
Rather than targeting specific vessels, Stump ordered his air group to attempt to cripple as many Japanese ships as possible. Taffy 2 and Taffy 3 aircraft contributed to the sinking of the heavy cruisers Chokai, Chikuma, and Suzuya, all of which had received some degree of damage from surface action.
Did anyone survive the USS Johnston?
Of the crew of 327, only 141 survived. Of the 186 lost, about 50 were killed by enemy action, 45 died on rafts from battle injuries and 92, including Evans, were alive in the water after Johnston sank, but were never heard from again.
Who won the Battle of Leyte?
The various forces for the Japanese included the Main Body (Northern), First Striking Force (consisting of Force “A” and Force “C”), and the Southwest Area Force. The combined battles of Leyte Gulf destroyed the Imperial Japanese Navy as an offensive force and decisively led to the defeat of Japan in 1945.
What were the casualties of the Battle of Leyte Gulf?
| Battle of Leyte Gulf | |
|---|---|
| Casualties and losses | |
| ~3,000 casualties; 1 light carrier, 2 escort carriers, 2 destroyers, 1 destroyer escort sunk 200+ planes | ~12,500 casualties; 1 fleet carrier, 3 light carriers, 3 battleships, 10 cruisers, 11 destroyers sunk ~300 planes |
How many aircraft were lost sinking the Yamato?
When Yamato sank, marking the last Japanese naval action of the war, she took 2,747 men with her—all but 269 of her crew. Surrounding Japanese ships lost an additional 1,167 men. Only 10 American aircraft went down in the battle, with the loss of just 12 men.
What is the deepest shipwreck?
the USS Johnston
(CNN) — The world’s deepest known shipwreck, a World War II US Navy destroyer, has been fully mapped and filmed by a US-based crew. The ship, the USS Johnston, is at a depth of 21,180 feet (about 6,500 meters) in the Philippine Sea.