First Strike

5 November 1943

American Forces

Task Force 39
  • RAdm. F.C. Sherman
  • Saratoga (CV-3) (force flagship)(force flagship)
    Commanding officer: Capt. J.H. Cassady
    • Carrier Air Group 12
      Commanding officer: Cdr. H.H. Caldwell
      • 33 (operational) x F6F
      • 22 (operational) x SBD
      • 16 (operational) x TBF
  • Princeton (CVL-23)
    Commanding officer: Capt. George Henderson
    • Carrier Air Group 23
      Commanding officer: Cdr. Henry Miller
      • 19 (operational) x F6F
      • 7 (operational) x TBF

Screen

  • RAdm. L.J. Wiltse
  • San Diego (CL-53) (flagship)(flagship)
  • San Juan (CL-54)
Destroyers
Exact composition of the squadron is unknown
  • Capt. Rodger W. Simpson
  • Fahrenholt
  • Buchanan
  • Lansdowne
  • Lardner
  • Woodworth
  • Fullam
  • Bennett
  • Guest
  • Hudson

Japanese Forces

Second Fleet
  • VAdm. Takeo Kurita
  • CA Takao
  • CA Maya
  • CA Atago
  • CA Suzuya
  • CA Mogami
  • CA Chikuma
  • CL Agano
  • CL Noshiro
  • DD Fujinami
  • DD Wakatsuki

Second Strike

11 November 1943

American Forces

Task Force 38

  • RAdm. F.C. Sherman
  • Same ships as in first strike

Task Force 50.3

  • R.Adm. A.E. Montgomery
  • Essex (CV-9) (force flagship)(force flagship)
    Commanding officer: Capt. R.A. Ofstie
    • Carrier Air Group 9
      Commanding officer: Cdr. Paul Emrick
      • 36 x F6F
      • 36 x SBD
      • 19 x TBF
  • Bunker Hill (CV-17)
    Commanding officer: Capt. John Ballentine
    • Carrier Air Group 17
      Commanding officer: Cmdr. M.P. Bagdonovich
      • 24 x F6F
      • 24 x F4U
        Notes: Attached from AirSols.
      • 33 x SB2C
      • 18 x TBF
  • Independence (CVL-22)
    Commanding officer: Capt. R.L. Johnson
    • Carrier Air Group 22
      Commanding officer: Cmdr. J.M. Peters
      • 36 x F6F
        Notes: 12 attached from AirSols.
      • 9 x TBF
Destroyer Screen
  • Cmdr. C.J. Stuart
  • Sterrett
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. F.G. Gould
  • Bullard
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. B.W. Freund
  • Murray
    Commanding officer: Cdr. Paul R. Anderson
  • McKee
    Commanding officer: Cdr. J.J. Greytak
  • Stack
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. P.K. Sherman
  • Wilson
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cmdr. C.K. Duncan
  • Edwards
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cdr. P.G. Osler
  • Kidd
    Commanding officer: Cdr. Allan Roby
  • Chauncey
    Commanding officer: Lt. Cdr. L.C. Conwell

Japanese Forces

Second Fleet
  • CA Maya
  • CA Chokai
  • CL Agano
  • CL Yubari
  • DD Naganami
  • DD Makinami
  • DD Suzunami (sunk)(sunk)
  • DD Urakaze
  • DD Umikaze

Sources

Information drawn mainly from:

  • The History of U.S. Naval Operations in WWII, Vol. VI: Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier by Samuel Eliot Morison