Invasion of Leyte naval order of battle

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

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.

Theatre and fleet commanders
for the liberation of the Philippines
Gen. Douglas MacArthur
Vice Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid

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

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

US Seventh Fleet

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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

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Central Philippines Attack Force (Task Force 77)

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Vice Admiral Kinkaid

Flag group
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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

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Northern Attack Force (Task Force 78)

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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)

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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

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Provision ship Crux
 
Hospital ship Mercy

Service Force Seventh Fleet (Task Group 77.7)

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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

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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)

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Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier Lexington

Task Group 38.1

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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 abandoneded 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 abandoneded and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[2]

References

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

Bibliography

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  • 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.