Thomas J. Cutler - Battle of Leyte Gulf: 23-26 October 1944

THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF

Also by Thomas Cutler

Brown Water, Black Berets: Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam

The latest edition of this work has been brought to publication with the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest.

Naval Institute Press

291 Wood Road

Annapolis, MD 21402

1994 by Thomas J. Cutler

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First Bluejacket Books printing, 2001

ISBN 978-1-61251-569-4 (eBook)

The Library of Congress has cataloged the paperback edition as follows:

Cutler, Thomas J., 1947-

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, 23-26 October, 1944 / Thomas J. Cutler.

p. cm. (Bluejacket Books)

Originally published: New York : Harper Collins, 1994.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Philippine Sea, Battles of the, 1994. I. Title. II. Series.

D774.P5 C87 2001

940.5425dc21

2001044460

Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).

15 14 13 12

To Ann and Hans Schuler

Two of the most generous people

I have ever known and loved,

without whom many lives would be

differentespecially mine

and

To Chris and Gary

Whose love, achievements, and friendship

have brought me more happiness

than any father could hope for

Everything in war is very simple, but the simplest thing is difficult. The difficulties accumulate and end by producing a kind of friction that is inconceivable unless one has experienced war.

Carl von Clausewitz, On War

[Clausewitz] introduces the element that others have called the fog of war, the perennial inadequacies and inaccuracies of intelligence.

Bernard Brodie, A Guide to the Reading of On War

Contents

Illustrations follow .

The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of World War II calls the Battle of Leyte Gulf the greatest naval engagement ever fought. Famed historian Ronald Spector in his history of the American war with Japan,