JASENRAE E.

SAYSON
B2-1
BS Philosophy

Battle of Leyte Gulf

1. Why is this battle considered "the biggest naval battle in history?"

The battle of Leyte Gulf is considered as the biggest naval battle in history
because there are over 200,000 naval personnel involved in that war. The engagement
happened near the Philippipne Islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon on October 23-24,
1944. The belligerents were American and Australian forces against the Imperial
Japanese Navy. The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted of two preliminary strikes against the
Japanese forces on the way to battle and three massive engagements once the fleets
tangled. In other words, the last great battleship engagement of World War II, and in all
of history, was staged in five parts, each bearing its own name:The Palawan Passage,
The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, The Battle of Surigao Strait, The Battle of Cape Engano,
and The Battle of Samar. The American and Australian forces have the advantage
when it comes to naval fleets, and their naval fleets have amphibious forces,
battleships, escort carriers, heavy cruisers, light cruisers, destroyers and escort
destroyers, which in itself was a powerful force, while the japanese have fewer capital
ships, aircraft carriers, battleships and this was the first battle in which japanese aircraft
carried an organized kamikaze attacks on the allied forces which crippled the
battleships of the allied forces.

2. What was the intention of the Japanese Fleet?

The intention of the Japanese fleet is to invade other countries in Southeast Asia
which were a vital source of industrial and oil supply while maintaining their
communication and oil supply lines that sustains their fleet which stretched from the
Dutch oil fields in Sumatra, Indonesia to the Philippines, and toward the north to Japan.

3. How important was the battle to the Americans who had landed at Leyte?

Since the Japanese forces have taken control over the island, the Allied forces
takes back the island with full force By convoying transports to the landing area and
guarding the allied forces while unloading the supplies and it was to protect them from
retirement. To the Allied forces they were on the defensive and offensive, in order for
them to maintain unremitting pressure against japan and to apply maximum attrition by
all possible means in all areas. Also by finding an opening/ opportunity for destruction of
major portion of the enemy fleets.
4. Why are the aircraft carriers are very important to a naval fleet?

The aircraft carrier dramatically changed naval warfare in World War II, because
air power was becoming a significant factor in warfare. They had greater range and
precision than naval guns, making them highly effective. Aircraft carriers are more
survivable than land bases, The notion that carriers are losing their warfighting value
because they are vulnerable is almost comically wrong. They are much more survivable
than the overseas bases on which the Air Force and Army would have to depend for the
simple reason that carriers are always moving. Flight decks were installed on several
different types of ships to explore the possibilities of operating naval aircraft without the
performance limitations of flotation devices required for seaplanes and flying boats. The
speed of the carrier during launch effectively decreased the takeoff distance for
embarked aircraft, so faster carriers could operate heavier aircraft with greater range
and superior combat capability.