Invasion of Leyte naval order of battle

For the Battle of Leyte Gulf, see Leyte Gulf order of battle

Theatre and fleet commanders
for the liberation of the Philippines

Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid

On 17 October 1944, troops of the United States Sixth Army under the direct command of Lieutenant General Walter Krueger, invaded the Philippine island of Leyte. This operation was the beginning of General Douglas MacArthur's fulfillment of his promise in March 1942 to the Filipino people that he would liberate them from Japanese rule.

MacArthur's formal title was Supreme Commander, Allied Forces, Southwest Pacific Area. The amphibious landings were carried out and supported by the United States Seventh Fleet, including 1 British and 11 Australian ships, under the direction of Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid.

Seventh Fleet

* Combat ships: 18 escort carriers, 6 old battleships, 5 heavy cruisers,[a] 4 light cruisers, 34 destroyers,[b] 17 destroyer escorts
* 280+ amphibious landing and support ships[c]
* 110+ auxiliaries[d]

In case the Imperial Japanese Navy interfered, additional air cover was provided by the fast carriers of the US Third Fleet under the command of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr..
Third Fleet

* 9 fleet carriers, 8 light carriers, 6 fast battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 7 light cruisers, 3 anti-aircraft light cruisers, 58 destroyers

## US Seventh Fleet

[edit]

Vice Adm. Kinkaid's flagship Wasatch

Heavy cruiser HMAS Australia passing through the Panama Canal, 1935

Destroyer HMAS Warramunga

Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid in amphibious command ship Wasatch

### Combat Units

[edit]

#### Central Philippines Attack Force (Task Force 77)

[edit]

Vice Admiral Kinkaid

##### Flag group

[edit]

1 light cruiser

1 Brooklyn-class (15 × 6-in. main battery): Nashville
4 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Ammen, Abner Read, Mullany, Bush

##### Close Covering Group (Task Group 77.3)

[edit]

Rear Admiral Russell S. Berkey

2 heavy cruisers

Both County-class (8 × 8-in. main battery):  Australia,  Shropshire
2 light cruisers

Both Brooklyn-class (15 × 6-in. main battery): Phoenix, Boise
6 destroyers

4 Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Bache, Beale, Daly, Killen
2 Tribal-class (8 × 4.7-in. main battery):  Arunta,  Warramunga

##### Escort Carrier Group (Task Group 77.4)

[edit]

Taffy 1 Commander

Rear Adm. Thomas L. Sprague

Escort carrier Suwannee Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter

Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague

"Taffy 1"
Rear Admiral T.L. Sprague

6 escort carriers

Sangamon (Capt. M.E. Browder)

Air Group 37 (Lt. Cmdr. S.E. Hindman)

17 F6F Hellcat fighters
9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Suwannee (Capt. W.D. Johnson)

Air Group 60 (Lt. Cmdr. H.O. Feilbach, USNR)

22 F6F Hellcat fighters
9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Chenango (Capt. George van Deurs)

Air Group 35 (Lt. Cmdr. F.T. Moore)

22 F6F Hellcat fighters
9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Santee (Capt. Robert E. Blick)

Air Group 26 (Lt. Cmdr. H.N. Funk)

24 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
6 TBF Avenger, 3 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Carrier Division 28 (Rear Adm. George R. Henderson)

Saginaw Bay (Capt. F.C. Sutton)

Composite Squadron 78 (Lt. Cmdr. J.L. Hyde, USNR)

15 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Petrof Bay (Capt. J.L. Kane)

Composite Squadron 76 (Lt. Cmdr. J.W. McCauley, USNR)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
10 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Screen

3 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): McCord, Trathen, Hazelwood
5 destroyer escorts

4 John C. Butler-class (2 × 5-in. main battery): Edmonds, Richard M. Rowell, Richard S. Bull, Eversole
1 Buckley-class (3 × 3-in. main battery): Coolbaugh

Taffy 2 Commander

Rear Adm. Felix B. Stump

Escort carrier Savo Island John C. Butler-class destroyer escort

"Taffy 2"
Rear Admiral Felix B. Stump

6 escort carriers

Natoma Bay (Capt. Albert K. Morehouse)

Composite Squadron 81 (Lt. Cmdr. R.C. Barnes)
16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Manila Bay (Capt. Fitzhugh Lee, III)

Composite Squadron 80 (Lt. Cmdr. H.K. Stubbs, USNR)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Carrier Division 27 (Rear Adm. William D. Sample)

Marcus Island (Capt. C.F. Greber)

Composite Squadron 21 (Lt. Cmdr T.O. Murray)

12 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Kadashan Bay (Capt. R.N. Hunter)

Composite Squadron 20 (Lt. Cmdr. J.R. Dale)

15 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Savo Island (Capt. Clarence E. Ekstrom)

Composite Squadron 27 (Lt. Cmdr. P.W. Jackson)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Ommaney Bay (Capt. H.L. Young)

Composite Squadron 75 (Lt. Cmdr. A.W. Smith)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Screen (Capt. L.K. Reynolds)

3 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Haggard, Franks, Hailey
5 destroyer escorts

All John C. Butler-class (2 × 5-in. main battery): Richard W. Suesens, Abercrombie, Oberrender, LeRay Wilson, Walter C. Wann

Taffy 3 Commander

Rear Adm. Clifton A.F. Sprague

Escort carrier White Plains Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber

"Taffy 3"
Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague

6 escort carriers

Fanshaw Bay (Capt. D.P. Johnson)

Composite Squadron 68 (Lt. Cmdr. R.S. Rogers)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
St. Lo (sunk at the Battle off Samar, 25 Oct) (Capt. Francis J. McKenna)

Composite Squadron 65 (Lt. Cmdr. R.M. Jones, USMR)

17 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
White Plains (Capt. D.J. Sullivan)

Composite Squadron 4 (Lt. E.R. Fickenscher)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Kalinin Bay (Capt. T.B. Williamson)

Composite Squadron 3 (Lt. Cmdr. W.H. Keighley)

16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
1 TBF Avenger, 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Carrier Division 26 (Rear Adm. Ralph A. Ofstie)

Kitkun Bay (Capt. John P. Whitney)

Composite Squadron 5 (Cmdr. R.L. Fowler)

14 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Gambier Bay (sunk at the Battle off Samar, 25 Oct) (Capt. Walter V. R. Vieweg)

Composite Squadron 10 (Lt. Cmdr. E.J. Huxtable)

18 FM-2 Wildcat fighters
12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Screen (Cmdr. W.D. Thomas)

3 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Hoel (sunk at the Battle off Samar, 25 Oct), Heermann, Johnston (sunk at the Battle off Samar, 25 Oct)
4 destroyer escorts

All John C. Butler-class (2 × 5-in. main battery): Dennis, John C. Butler, Raymond, Samuel B. Roberts (sunk at the Battle off Samar, 25 Oct)

##### Minesweeping and Hydrographic Group (Task Group 77.5)

[edit]

Auk-class minesweeper Australian harbour defence motor launch

Commander W.R. Loud

1 frigate:  Gascoyne
1 destroyer transport: Sands
7 fast minesweepers: Hovey, Southard, Chandler, Long, Hamilton, Howard, Palmer
12 minesweepers

7 Auk-class: Token, Tumult, Velocity, Requisite, Pursuit, Revenge, Sage
5 Admirable-class: Salute, Saunter, Scout, Scrimmage, Sentry
2 minelayers: Preble, Breese
26 auxiliary motor minesweepers
1 harbour defence motor launch:  1074

##### Beach Demolition Group (Task Group 77.6)

[edit]

Lt. Commander C.C. Morgan, USNR

11 fast transports

Embarking Underwater Demolition Teams 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10[e]

8 ex-Clemson-class destroyers: Clemson, Goldsborough, Kane, Brooks, Belknap, Overton, Humphreys, George E. Badger
2 ex-Wickes-class destroyers: Rathburne, Talbot
1 ex-Caldwell-class destroyer: Manley

### Amphibious Assault Units

[edit]

#### Northern Attack Force (Task Force 78)

[edit]

Amphibious force commander for Northern Landing Area

Rear Adm. Daniel E. Barbey

Landing ship dock Gunston Hall Steel-hulled sub chaser Attack transport James O'Hara Landing ship tank

Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey in amphibious command ship Blue Ridge
Embarking  X Army Corps under Maj. Gen. Franklin C. Sibert

Palo Attack Group (Task Group 78.1): Left beaches
Rear Admiral Barbey
Embarking  24th Infantry ("Taro") Division under Maj. Gen. Frederick A. Irving

Transport Unit (Capt. T.B. Brittain)

Transport Division 24 (Capt. Brittain)

4 attack transports: DuPage, Fuller, Elmore, Wayne
1 transport: John Land
1 attack cargo ship: Aquarius
1 landing ship dock: Gunston Hall
Transport Division 6 (Capt. H.D. Baker)

3 attack transports: Fayette, Ormsby, Leedstown
1 attack cargo ship: Titania
1 cargo ship: Hercules
2 landing ship docks: Epping Forest, Carter Hall
Screen (Capt. Henry Crommelin)

4 destroyers

All Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery): John Rodgers, Murray, Harrison, McKee
Control and Close Support Unit (Capt. N.D. Brantly)

4 submarine chasers: 3 steel hull, 1 wooden hull
16 landing craft infantry: 9 standard, 5 rocket, 2 gunboat
3 patrol craft escort
1 frigate
3 landing ships medium
2 fleet tugs: Apache, Quapaw

San Ricardo Attack Group (Task Group 78.2): Right beaches
Rear Admiral W.M. Fechteler in attack transport Fremont
Embarking  1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge

Transport Unit (Capt. M.O. Carlson)

Transport Division 32 (Capt. Carlson)

4 attack transports: Harris, Barnstable
1 transport: Herald of the Morning
1 attack cargo ship: Arneb
1 landing ship dock: White Marsh
Transport Division 20 (Capt. D.W. Loomis)

3 attack transports: Leonard Wood, Pierce, James O'Hara
1 transport: La Salle
1 attack cargo ship: Electra
1 landing ship dock: Oak Hill
9 landing ships medium
Screen (Capt. A.E. Jarrell)

4 destroyers

3 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Fletcher, Jenkins, La Vallette
1 Sims-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Anderson
1 fleet tug: Sonoma
8 landing craft infantry: 6 rocket, 2 gunboat
14 landing ships tank
Battleship Mississippi Minelayer HMS Ariadne Destroyer Stack Fletcher-class destroyer

Fire Support Unit North (Rear Adm. George L. Weyler)

3 old battleships

2 Colorado-class (8 × 16-in. main battery): Maryland, West Virginia
1 New Mexico-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): Mississippi
3 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Cony, Aulick, Sigourney

Panaon Attack Group (Task Group 78.3)
Rear Admiral A.D. Struble in Hughes
Embarking 21st Regimental Combat Team / 24th Infantry Division

3 landing ships infantry:  Kanimbla,  Manoora,  Westralia
4 Fletcher-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Sigsbee, Ringgold, Schroeder, Dashiell
1 Sims-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery): Hughes
1 minelayer:  Ariadne

Dinagat Attack Group (Task Group 78.4)
Rear Admiral Struble in Hughes
Embarking 6th Ranger Battalion and Co. B / 21st Infantry

5 fast transports: (all ex-Wickes-class destroyers): Kilty, Schley, Ward, Herbert, Crosby
2 Benham-class destroyers (4 × 5-in. main battery): Lang, Stack
2 Tacoma-class frigates (3 × 3-in. main battery): Gallup, Bisbee
1 fleet tug: Chickasaw

Reinforcement Group One (Task Group 78.6)
Captain S.P. Jenkins
Arriving 22 October

Amphibious assault vessels

6 attack transports: Crescent City, Warren, Windsor, Callaway, Leon, Sumter
1 transport: Storm King
1 cargo ship: Jupiter
1 repair ship: Achilles
4 merchant ships
32 landing ships tank
12 landing craft infantry
Escort (Capt. E.A. Solomons)

4 destroyers

2 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Stevens, Howorth
2 Sims-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Mustin, Morris
2 frigates

Both Tacoma-class (3 × 3-in. main battery): Carson City, Burlington
Destroyer Drayton Tacoma-class frigate

Reinforcement Group Two (Task Group 78.7)
Captain J.K.P. Ginder
Arriving 24 October

Amphibious assault vessels

32 landing ships tank
24 merchant ships
Escort (Capt. Ginder)

4 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Nicholas, O'Bannon, Taylor, Hopewell
2 frigates

Both Tacoma-class (3 × 3-in. main battery): Muskogee, San Pedro

Reinforcement Group Three (Task Group 78.9)
Commander J.L. Steinmetz, USCG
Arriving 29 October

Amphibious assault vessels

62 landing ships tank
19 merchant ships
Escort (Capt. W.M. Cole)

5 destroyers

All Mahan-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Mahan, Drayton, Lamson, Flusser, Smith
4 frigates

All Tacoma-class (3 × 3-in. main battery): Eugene, El Paso, Van Buren, Orange

#### Southern Attack Force (Task Force 79)

[edit]

Amphibious force commanders for
Southern Landing Area

Vice Adm. Theodore S. Wilkinson

Richard L. Conolly as a vice admiral

Amphibious command ships

Mount Olympus (Vice Adm. Wilkinson)

Appalachian (Rear Adm. Conolly)

Vice Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson in amphibious command ship Mount Olympus
Embarking  XXIV Army Corps under Lieut. Gen. John R. Hodge

Attack Group "Able" (Task Group 79.1): Left beaches
Rear Admiral Richard L. Conolly in amphibious command ship Appalachian
Embarking  7th Infantry "Bayonet" Division under Maj. Gen. Archibald V. Arnold

Transport Group "Able" (Task Group 79.3)
Captain C.G. Richardson

Transport Division 7 (Capt. Richardson)

3 attack transports: Cavalier, J. Franklin Bell, Feland
1 transport: Golden City
1 attack cargo ship: Thuban
1 landing ship dock: Lindenwald
Transport Division 30 (Capt. C.A. Mission)

3 attack transports: Knox, Calvert, Custer
1 evacuation transport: Rixey
1 attack cargo ship: Chara
1 landing ship dock: Ashland
Transport Division 38 (Capt. Charles Allen)

3 attack transports: Lamar, Alpine, Heywood
2 transports: Starlight, Monitor
1 attack cargo ships: Alshain
Transport Division "X-Ray" (Capt. J.A. Snackenberg)

2 attack transports: George Clymer, President Hayes
1 cargo ship: Mercury
Screen (Capt. W.J. Marshall)

8 destroyers

All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Erben, Walker, Hale, Abbot, Black, Chauncey, Braine, Gansevoort
Rear Adm. Forrest B. Royal Attack cargo ship Capricornus

Attack Group "Baker" (Task Group 79.2): Right beaches
Rear Admiral Forrest B. Royal[f]
Embarking  96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division under Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley

TG 79.4 Transport Group "Baker" (Task Group 79.4)
Capt. H.B. Knowles

Transport Division 10 (Capt. G.D. Morrison)

4 attack transports: Clay, Arthur Middleton, Baxter, William P. Biddle
1 transport: George F. Elliott
1 attack cargo ship: Capricornus
1 landing ship vehicle: Catskill
Transport Division 18 (Capt. Knowles)

3 attack transports: Cambria, Monrovia, Frederick Funston
1 transport: War Hawk
1 attack cargo ship: Alcyone
2 landing ship docks: Casa Grande, Rushmore
Transport Division 28 (Capt. H.C. Flanagan)

3 attack transports: Bolivar, Sheridan, Doyen
1 transport: Comet
1 attack cargo ship: Almaack
1 landing ship dock: Belle Grove
Screen (Capt. E.R. McLean)

9 destroyers

8 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Picking, Sproston, Wickes, Isherwood, Charles J. Badger, Halligan, Haraden, Twiggs
1 Farragut-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): MacDonough
Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf

Battleship Tennessee underway

Heavy cruiser Portland in drydock

Fire Support Unit South
Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf in heavy cruiser Louisville

Battleship Division 2 (Rear Adm. Theodore E. Chandler)

3 old battleships

2 Tennessee-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): Tennessee, California
1 Pennsylvania-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): Pennsylvania
Cruiser Division 4 (Rear Adm. Oldendorf)

3 heavy cruisers

1 New Orleans-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Minneapolis
1 Portland-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Portland
1 Northampton-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Louisville
Cruiser Division 9 (Rear Adm. Walden L. Ainsworth)

1 light cruiser

1 Brooklyn-class (15 × 6-in. main battery): Honolulu
Cruiser Division 12 (Rear Adm. Robert W. Hayler)

2 light cruisers

Both Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery): Denver, Columbia
Screen (Capt. Roland N. Smoot)

13 destroyers

11 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Leutze, Newcomb, Bennion, Heywood L. Edwards, Richard P. Leary, Robinson, Ross, Albert W. Grant, Bryant, Halford, Claxton
2 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Thorn, Welles

### Service and Support Units

[edit]

Provision ship Crux Hospital ship Mercy

#### Service Force Seventh Fleet (Task Group 77.7)

[edit]

Rear Admiral R.O. Glover

Fueling at Sea Unit (Capt. J.D. Beard)

7 oilers: Saranac, Ashtabula, Salamonie, Suamico, Kishwaukee, Schuylkill, Tallulah
5 ammunition ships: Mazama, Durham Victory, Iran Victory, Bluefield Victory, Canada Victory
Escort Unit (Cmdr. F.W. Howers)

3 Buckley-class destroyer escorts (3 × 3-in. main battery): Whitehurst, Witter, Bowers
Leyte Gulf Unit (Capt. E.P. Hylant)

6 tankers: Arethusa, Caribou, Mink, Panda, Porcupine,  Bishopdale
1 water tanker: Severn
4 net tenders: Indus, Teak, Silverbell, Satinleaf
3 repair and salvage vessels: Achilles, Cable, Midas
1 floating dry dock: ARD-19
4 ammunition ships: Murzim, Poyang, Ranvr, Yunnan
9 provision ships: Arequipa, Calamaries, Mizar, Octane, Crux, Ganymede, Triangulum, Pollux, Acubens,  Merkur
2 hospital ships: Mercy, Comfort

## US Third Fleet

[edit]

Third Fleet and Fast Carrier commanders

Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.

Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher

Admiral William F. Halsey in fast battleship New Jersey

### Fast Carrier Force (Task Force 38)

[edit]

See also: [[:[Fast Carrier Task Force]]

Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier Lexington

#### Task Group 38.1

[edit]

Vice Adm. John S. McCain, Sr. Light carrier Cowpens Light cruiser Houston in dazzle camouflage

Vice Admiral John S. McCain Sr.[g]

2 fleet carriers

Hornet (Capt. Austin K. Doyle)

Air Group 11 (Cmdr. F.R. Schrader)

VF-11: 33 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-11: 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-11:  1 TBF Avenger, 17 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Wasp (Capt. O.A. Weller)

Air Group 14 (Cmdr. W.C. Wingard)

VF-14: 38 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-14: 10 F6F Hellcat fighters, 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-14:  6 TBF Avenger, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers

Monterey (Capt. Stuart H. Ingersoll)

Air Group 28 (Lt. Cmdr. R.W. Mehle)

VF-28: 23 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-28:  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Cowpens (Capt. H.W. Taylor)

Air Group 22 (Lt. Cmdr. T.H. Jenkins)

VF-22: 26 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-22:  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Cruiser Division 6 (Rear Adm. C. Turner Joy)

1 heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery)

Wichita

Cruiser Division 10 (Rear Adm. Lloyd J. Wiltse)

1 heavy cruiser

Baltimore-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Boston
1 light cruiser

1 Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery): Houston

Screen (Capt. C.F. Espe)

15 destroyers

12 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Izard, Charrette, Conner, Bell, Burns, Cogswell, Caperton, Ingersoll, Knapp, Boyd, Cowell, Brown,
1 Benson-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Woodworth
2 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): McCalla, Grayson

#### Task Group 38.2

[edit]

Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan Fleet carrier Intrepid Fleet carrier Bunker Hill Fast battleship Iowa

Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan

3 fleet carriers

Intrepid (Capt. J.F. Bolger)

Air Group 18 (Cmdr. W.E. Ellis)

VF-18: 38 F6F Hellcat fighters, 5 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-18: 28 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-18: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Hancock (Capt. F.C. Dickey)

Air Group 7 (Cmdr. J.D. Lamade)

VF-7: 37 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-7: 42 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-7: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Bunker Hill (Capt. M.R. Greer)

Air Group 8 (Cmdr. R.L. Shifley)

VF-8: 40 F6F Hellcat fighters, 8 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-8: 17 SB2C Helldiver, 3 SBF Helldiver, 4 SBW Helldiver dive bombers
VT-8: 19 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers

Cabot (Capt. S.J. Michael)

Air Group 29 (Lt. Cmdr. W.E. Eder)

VF-29: 21 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-29:  1 TBF Avenger, 8 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Independence (Capt. E.C. Ewen)

Night Air Group 41 (Cmdr. T.F. Caldwell)

VFN-41:  5 F6F Hellcat fighters, 14 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VTN-41:  8 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Battleship Division 7 (Rear Adm. Oscar C. Badger II)

2 fast battleships

Both Iowa-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): Iowa, New Jersey

Cruiser Division 14 (Rear Adm. Francis E. M. Whiting)

2 light cruisers

Both Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery): Vincennes, Miami
2 anti-aircraft light cruisers:[h]

Both Atlanta-class: San Diego, Oakland

Screen (Capt. John P. Womble)

18 destroyers

All Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Owen, Miller, The Sullivans, Stephen Potter, Tingey, Hickox, Hunt, Lewis Hancock, Marshall, Halsey Powell, Cushing, Colahan, Uhlmann, Benham, Stockham, Wedderburn, Twining, Yarnall

#### Task Group 38.3

[edit]

Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman

Vice Adm. Frederick C. Sherman South Dakota-class fast battleship Massachusetts Anti-aircraft light cruiser Reno

2 fleet carriers

Essex (Capt. C.W. Wheeler)

Air Group 15 (Cmdr. H.T. Utter)

VF-15: 46 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-15: 25 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-15: 15 TBF Avenger, 5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Lexington (Capt. E.W. Litch)

Air Group 19 (Cmdr. T.H. Winters)

VF-19: 37 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-19: 30 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-19: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers

Princeton (Capt. W.H. Buracker)

Air Group 27 (Lt. Cmdr. F.A. Bardshar)

VF-27: 21 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-27:  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Langley (Capt. J.F. Wegforth)

Air Group 44 (Cmdr. M.T. Wordell)

VF-44: 25 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-44:  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

4 fast battleships (Vice Adm. Willis Augustus Lee)[i]

1 North Carolina-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): Washington
Battleship Division 8 (Rear Adm. Glenn B. Davis)

1 South Dakota-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): Massachusetts
Battleship Division 9 (Rear Adm. Edward Hanson)

2 South Dakota-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): Alabama, South Dakota

Cruiser Division 13 (Rear Adm. Laurance T. DuBose)

3 light cruisers

All Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery): Santa Fe, Mobile, Birmingham
1 anti-aircraft light cruiser

1 Atlanta-class (12 × 5-in. main battery):[j] Reno

Screen (Capt. C.R. Todd)

14 destroyers

All Fletcher class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Clarence K. Bronson, Cotten, Dortch, Gatling, Healy, Porterfield, Callaghan, Cassin Young, Irwin, Preston, Laws, Longshaw, Morrison, Prichett

#### Task Group 38.4

[edit]

Rear Adm. Ralph E. Davison Fleet carrier Enterprise

Destroyer Bagley

Before World War II

After World War II

Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison

2 fleet carriers

Franklin (Capt. J.M. Shoemaker)

Air Group 13 (Cmdr. R.L. Kibbe)

VF-13: 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-13: 31 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-13: 18 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Enterprise (Capt. Cato D. Glover)

Air Group 20 (Cmdr. D.F. Smith)

VF-20: 35 F6F Hellcat fighters, 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters
VB-20: 34 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
VT-20: 19 TBF Avenger, 5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers

San Jacinto (Capt. M.H. Kernodle)

Air Group 51 (Cmdr. C.L. Moore)

VF-51: 19 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-51:  7 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
Belleau Wood (Capts. John Perry)

Air Group 21 (Lt. Cmdr. V.F. Casey)

VF-21: 25 F6F Hellcat fighters
VT-21:  9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

1 heavy cruiser

1 New Orleans-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): New Orleans

1 light cruiser

1 Cleveland-class (12 × 6-in. main battery): Biloxi

Screen (Capt. V.D. Long)

11 destroyers

3 Gleaves-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Wilkes, Nicholson, Swanson
3 Gridley-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Gridley, McCall, Maury
5 Bagley-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Bagley, Helm, Mugford, Patterson, Ralph Talbot

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Two Australian
2. ^ Two Australian
3. ^ Three Australian
4. ^ Four Australian, one British
5. ^ William Hopper, later an actor known for his role on the long-running TV series Perry Mason, served in this unit.
6. ^ Died of a heart attack on board his flagship Rocky Mount off Borneo, June 1945.
7. ^ Grandfather of Vietnam War veteran and officeholder John McCain
8. ^ These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was abandoned and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[1]
9. ^ Commander Battleships, Pacific Fleet
10. ^ These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was abandoned and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Stille, p. 7.
2. ^ Stille, p. 7.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). Leyte, June 1944 - January 1945. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. XII. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-7858-1313-6.
* Stille, Mark (2016). US Navy Light Cruisers, 1941-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4728-1140-0.