World War II

Battle of Sibuyan Sea

24 October 1944
Contributed by Eugene Cammeron

Japanese Forces

Center Force

VADM T. Kurita

First Section

VADM T. Kurita

Battleship Division 1

VADM M. Ugaki

BB Yamato (damaged)

Commanding officer: RADM N. Morishita

Notes: Two bomb hits, one near miss; nine casualties and 3000 tonnes of flooding.
BB Musashi (sunk)

Commanding officer: RADM J. Inoguchi

Notes: Struck by twenty torpedoes and seventeen bombs, near-missed by 18 bombs; 1023 dead of her 2399 personnel.
BB Nagato (damaged)

Commanding officer: RADM Y. Kobe

Notes: Two bomb hits, aft turret and four secondary guns disabled.

Cruiser Division 4

CA Chokai

Commanding officer: CAPT K. Ariga

Cruiser Division 5

VADM S. Hashimoto

CA Myoko (damaged)

Commanding officer: CAPT H. Ishiwara

Notes: Hit by one torpedo, speed cut to 15 knots. Forced to withdraw; Hashimoto's flag transferred to Haguro.
CA Haguro

Commanding officer: CAPT K. Sugiura

Destroyer Squadron 2

RADM M. Mayakawa

CL Noshiro

Commanding officer: CAPT S. Kajiwara
DD Shimikaze

Destroyer Division 2

CAPT N. Shiraishi

DD Hayashimo
DD Akishimo

Destroyer Division 31

CAPT T. Fukuoka

DD Kishinami
DD Okinami

Destroyer Division 32

CAPT K. Aoki

DD Hamanami
DD Fujinami

Second Section

VADM Y. Suzuki

Battleship Division 3

VADM Y. Suzuki

BB Kongo

Commanding officer: RADM T. Shimazaki
BB Haruna (minimally damaged)

Commanding officer: RADM K. Shigenaga

Notes: Minor bomb damage.

Cruiser Division 7

VADM K. Shiraishi

CA Kumano

Commanding officer: CAPT S. Hitomi
CA Suzuya

Commanding officer: CAPT W. Takahashi
CA Chikuma

Commanding officer: CAPT S. Norimitsu
CA Tone

Commanding officer: CAPT H. Mayazumi

Destroyer Squadron 10

RADM S. Kimura

CL Yahagi

Commanding officer: CAPT M. Yoshimura
DD Nowaki
DD Kiyoshimo

Notes: Detached to rescue Musashi survivors and transport them to Manila.

Destroyer Division 17

CAPT T. Tanii

DD Urakaze
DD Yukikaze
DD Hamakaze

Notes: Detached to rescue Musashi survivors and transport them to Manila.
DD Isokaze

American Forces

Third Fleet (Task Force 38)

Elements of TF 38 flew 259 sorties against Kurita’s Center Force.

VADM M. A. Mitscher

Task Group 38.1

VADM J. S. McCain

Wasp (CV-18)

Commanding officer: CAPT O. A. Weller
- Air Group 14
  
  Commanding officer: CDR W. C. Wingard
  - VF-14
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR R. Gray
    - 33 x F6F-3
    - 3 x F6F-3N
    - 2 x F6F-3P
    - 14 x F6F-5
    - 1 x F6F-5N
  - VB-14
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. D. Blitch
    - 25 x SB2C-3
  - VT-14
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR H. S. Roberts
    - 5 x TBF-1C
    - 1 x TBF-1D
    - 11 x TBM-1C
    - 1 x TBM-1D

Hornet (CV-12)

Commanding officer: CAPT A. K. Doyle
- Air Group 11
  
  Commanding officer: CDR F. R. Schrader
  - VF-11
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR E. G. Fairfax
    - 11 x F6F-3
    - 2 x F6F-3N
    - 1 x F6F-3P
    - 21 x F6F-5
    - 2 x F6F-5N
    - 3 x F6F-5P
  - VB-11
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR L. A. Smith
    - 25 x SB2C-3
  - VT-11
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR R. Denniston
    - 1 x TBF-1C
    - 17 x TBM-1C

Hancock (CV-19)

Commanding officer: CAPT F. C. Dickey

Notes: Attached from Task Group 38.2 from October 22-26.
- Air Group 7
  
  Commanding officer: CDR J. D. Lamade
  - VF-7
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR L. J. Check
    - 37 x F6F-5
    - 4 x F6F-5N
  - VB-7
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. L. Erickson
    - 30 x SB2C-3
    - 12 x SB2C-3E
  - VT-7
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR C. B. Marshall
    - 18 x TBM-1C

Cowpens (CVL-25)

Commanding officer: CAPT H. W. Taylor
- Air Group 22
  
  Commanding officer: LCDR T. H. Jenkins
  - VF-22
    
    Commanding officer: LT L. L. Johnson
    - 25 x F6F-5
    - 1 x F6F-5P
  - VT-22
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR Jenkins
    - 9 x TBF-1C

Monterey (CVL-26)

Commanding officer: CAPT S. H. Ingersoll
- Air Group 28
  
  Commanding officer: LCDR R. W. Mehle
  - VF-28
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR Mehle
    - 21 x F6F-5
    - 2 x F6F-5P
  - VT-28
    
    Commanding officer: LT R. P. Gift
    - 9 x TBM-1C

Cruiser Division 6

RADM C. T. Joy

Wichita (CA-45)

Commanding officer: CAPT D. A. Spencer

Notes: To Task Group 58.4 on October 21.

Cruiser Division 10

RADM L. J. Wiltsie

Boston (CA-69)

Commanding officer: CAPT E. E. Herrmann
Canberra (CA-70)

Commanding officer: CAPT A. R. Early

Notes: Damaged; detached October 15.
Houston (CL-81)

Commanding officer: CAPT W. W. Behrens

Notes: Damaged; detached October 15.
San Diego (CL-53)

Commanding officer: CAPT W. E. Mullan
Oakland (CL-95)

Commanding officer: CAPT K. S. Reed

Cruiser Division 5

Cruiser Division 5 and Destroyer Squadron 4 formed Task Group 30.2 on October 6 and joined Task Group 38.1 on October 16.

RADM A. E. Smith

Pensacola (CA-24)

Commanding officer: CAPT A. P. Mullinnix
Salt Lake City (CA-25)

Commanding officer: CAPT L. W. Busbey
Chester (CA-27)

Commanding officer: CAPT H. Hartley

Destroyer Squadron 46

CAPT C. F. Espe

Izard (DD-589)

Commanding officer: CDR M. T. Dayton
Charrette (DD-581)

Commanding officer: LCDR G. P. Joyce
Conner (DD-582)

Commanding officer: CDR W. E. Kaitner
Bell (DD-587)

Commanding officer: CDR J. S. C. Gabbert
Burns (DD-588)

Commanding officer: CDR J. T. Bullen
Cogswell (DD-651)

Commanding officer: CDRR. E. Lockwood
Caperton (DD-650)

Commanding officer: CDR G. K. Carmichael
Ingersoll (DD-652)

Commanding officer: CDR A. C. Veasey
Knapp (DD-653)

Commanding officer: CDR W. B. Brown
Boyd (DD-544)

Commanding officer: CDR U. S. G. Sharp
Cowell (DD-547)

Commanding officer: CDR C. W. Parker
Brown (DD-546)

Commanding officer: CDR T. H. Copeman

Destroyer Squadron 12

CAPT W. P. Buford

McCalla (DD-488)

Commanding officer: LCDR E. Vinock
Grayson (DD-435)

Commanding officer: CDR W. V. Pratt
Woodworth (DD-460)

Commanding officer: CDR C. R. Stephan

Destroyer Squadron 4

Cruiser Division 5 and Destroyer Squadron 4 formed Task Group 30.2 on October 6 and joined Task Group 38.1 on October 16.

CAPT H. P. Smith

Dunlap (DD-384)

Commanding officer: LCDR C. R. Welte
Fanning (DD-385)

Commanding officer: CDR J. C. Bentley
Case (DD-370)

Commanding officer: LCDR R. S. Willey
Cummings (DD-365)

Commanding officer: LCDR W. J. Collum
Cassin (DD-372)

Commanding officer: CDR V. J. Meola
Downes (DD-375)

Commanding officer: CDR R. S. Fahle

Task Group 38.2

RADM G. F. Bogan

Intrepid (CV-11)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. F. Bolger
- Air Group 18
  
  Commanding officer: CDR W. E. Ellis
  - VF-18
    
    Commanding officer: LT E. J. Murphy
    - 36 x F6F-5
    - 5 x F6F-5N
    - 3 x F6F-5P
  - VB-18
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR M. Eslick
    - 28 x SB2C-3
  - VT-18
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR L. W. VanAntwerp
    - 18 x TBM-1C

Bunker Hill (CV-17)

Commanding officer: CAPT M. R. Greer

Notes: Detached for major overhaul on October 23.
- Air Group 8
  
  Commanding officer: CDR R. L. Shifley
  - VF-8
    
    Commanding officer: CDR W. M. Collins
    - 27 x F6F-3
    - 14 x F6F-5
    - 4 x F6F-3N
    - 4 x F6F-5N
  - VB-8
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. D. Arbes
    - 17 x SB2C-1C
    - 3 x SBF-1
    - SBW-1
  - VT-8
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR K. F. Musick
    - 17 x TBM-1C
    - 2 x TBM-1D

Cabot (CVL-28)

Commanding officer: CAPT S. J. Michael
- Air Group 29
  
  Commanding officer: LCDR W. E. Eder
  - VF-29
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR Eder
    - 3 x F6F-3
    - 18 x F6F-5
  - VB-29
    
    Commanding officer: LT J. H. McPherson
    - 1 x TBF-1C
    - 8 x TBM-1C

Independence (CVL-22)

Commanding officer: CAPT E. C. Ewen
- Night Air Group 41
  
  Commanding officer: CDR T. F. Caldwell
  - VFN-41
    
    Commanding officer: CDR Caldwell
    - 3 x F6F-3
    - 2 x F6F-5
    - 14 x F6F-5N
  - VTN-41
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR W. R. Taylor
    - 8 x TBM-1D

Battleship Division 7

RADM O. C. Badger

Iowa (BB-61)

Commanding officer: CAPT A. R. McCann
New Jersey (BB-62)

Commanding officer: CAPT C. F. Holden

Cruiser Division 14

RADM F. E. M. Whiting

Vincennes (CL-64)

Commanding officer: CAPT A. D. Brown
Miami (CL-89)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. G. Crawford

Destroyer Squadron 52

CAPT J. P. Womble

Owen (DD-536)

Commanding officer: CDR C. B. Jones
Miller (DD-535)

Commanding officer: LCDR D. L. Johnson
The Sullivans (DD-537)

Commanding officer: CDR R. J. Baum
Stephen Potter (DD-538)

Commanding officer: CDR L. W. Pancoast
Tingey (DD-539)

Commanding officer: CDR J. O. Miner

Destroyer Squadron 104

CAPT W. T. Kenny

Hickox (DD-673)

Commanding officer: LCDR J. H. Wesson
Hunt (DD-674)

Commanding officer: CDR H. A. Knoertzer
Lewis Hancock (DD-675)

Commanding officer: CDR W. M. Searles
Marshall (DD-676)

Commanding officer: CDR J. D. McKinney

Destroyer Squadron 50

CAPT H. B. Jarrett

Halsey Powell (DD-686)

Commanding officer: CDR S. D. B. Merrill
Cushing (DD-797)

Commanding officer: CDR F. L. Volk
Colahan (DD-658)

Commanding officer: CDR D. T. Wilber
Uhlmann (DD-687)

Commanding officer: CDR S. G. Hooper
Benham (DD-796)

Commanding officer: CDR F. S. Keeler

Destroyer Squadron 106

CAPT B. F. Tompkins

Stockham (DD-683)

Commanding officer: CDR E. P. Holmes
Wedderburn (DD-684)

Commanding officer: CDR C. H. Kendall
Twining (DD-540)

Commanding officer: CDR E. K. Wakefield
Yarnall (DD-541)

Commanding officer: CDR J. H. Hogg

Task Group 38.3

RADM F. C. Sherman

Essex (CV-9)

Commanding officer: CAPT C. W. Weiber
- Air Group 15
  
  Commanding officer: CDR D. McCampbell
  - VF-15
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. F. Rigg
    - 22 x F6F-3
    - 3 x F6F-3N
    - 2 x F6F-3P
    - 23 x F6F-5
    - 1 x F6F-5N
  - VB-15
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. H. Mini
    - 25 x SB2C-3
  - VT-15
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR V. G. Lambert
    - 15 x TBF-1C
    - 5 x TBM-1C

Lexington (CV-16)

Commanding officer: CAPT E. W. Litch
- Air Group 19
  
  Commanding officer: CDR T. H. Winters
  - VF-19
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR F. E. Cook
    - 14 x F6F-3
    - 2 x F6F-3N
    - 2 x F6F-3P
    - 23 x F6F-5
    - 1 x F6F-5N
  - VB-19
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR R. McGowan
    - 30 x SB2C-3
  - VT-19
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR F. C. Perry
    - 18 x TBM-1C

Princeton (CVL-23) (sunk)

Commanding officer: CAPT W. H. Buracker

Notes: Sunk by Japanese land-based aircraft.
- Air Group 27
  
  Commanding officer: LCDR F. A. Bardshar
  - VF-27
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR Bardshar
    - 18 x F6F-3
    - 7 x F6F-5
  - VT-27
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR S. M. Haley
    - 9 x TBM-1C

Langley (CVL-27)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. F. Wegforth
- Air Group 44
  
  Commanding officer: CDR M. T. Wordell
  - VF-44
    
    Commanding officer: CDR Wordell
    - 19 x F6F-3
    - 6 x F6F-5
  - VT-44
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR E. F. Craig
    - 9 x TBM-1C

Flagship of Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet

VADM W. A. Lee

Position: Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet; Commander, Task Force 34 (when formed)

Washington (BB-56)

Commanding officer: CAPT T. R. Cooley

Notes: To Task Group 38.4 on October 23.

Battleship Division 8

RADM G. B. Davis

Massachusetts (BB-59)

Commanding officer: CAPT W. W. Warlick

Battleship Division 9

RADM E. W. Hanson

South Dakota (BB-57)

Commanding officer: CAPT C. B. Momsen

Notes: To Task Group 38.4 on October 28.
Alabama (BB-60)

Commanding officer: CAPT V. R. Murphy

Notes: To Task Group 38.4 on October 23.

Cruiser Division 13

RADM L. T. DuBose

Santa Fe (CL-60)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. Wright
Mobile (CL-63)

Commanding officer: CAPT C. C. Miller
Birmingham (CL-62) (damaged)

Commanding officer: CAPT T. B. Inglis

Notes: Struck by Japanese land-based aircraft.
Reno (CL-96)

Commanding officer: CAPT R. C. Alexander

Destroyer Squadron 50

CAPT C. R. Todd

Clarence K. Bronson (DD-668)

Commanding officer: CDR G. Scull
Cotton (DD-669)

Commanding officer: CDR P. W. Winston
Dortch (DD-670)

Commanding officer: CDR R. E. Myers
Gatling (DD-671)

Commanding officer: CDR A. F. Richardson

Notes: Detached on October 24.
Healy (DD-672)

Commanding officer: CDR J. C. Atkeson

Destroyer Squadron 55

CAPT A. E. Jarrell

Porterfield (DD-682)

Commanding officer: LCDR D. W. Wulzen
Callaghan (DD-792)

Commanding officer: LCDR C. M. Berthof
Cassin Young (DD-793)

Commanding officer: CDR E. T. Schrieber
Irwin (DD-794)

Commanding officer: CDR D. B. Miller

Notes: To Task Group 38.4 on October 23.
Preston (DD-795)

Commanding officer: CDR G. S. Patrick

Destroyer Division 110

To Task Group 38.4 on October 23.

CDR M. Van Metre

Laws (DD-558)

Commanding officer: CDR L. O. Wood
Longshaw (DD-559)

Commanding officer: CDR R. H. Speck
Morrison (DD-560)

Commanding officer: CDR W. H. Price
Prichett (DD-561)

Commanding officer: CDR C. T. Caulfield

Task Group 38.4

Rear Admiral R. E. Davison

Franklin (CV-13)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. M. Shoemaker
- Air Group 13
  
  Commanding officer: CDR R. L. Kibbe
  - VF-13
    
    Commanding officer: CDR W. M. Coleman
    - 1 x F6F-3
    - 1 x F6F-3N
    - 30 x F6F-5
    - 1 x F6F-5N
    - 4 x F6F-5P
  - VB-13
    
    Commanding officer: LT C. A. Skinner
    - 31 x SB2C-3
  - VT-13
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR L. C. French
    - 18 x TBM-1C

Enterprise (CV-6)

Commanding officer: CAPT C. D. Glover
- Air Group 20
  
  Commanding officer: CDR D. F. Smith
  - VF-20
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR F. E. Bakutis
    - 35 x F6F-5
    - 4 x F6F-3N
  - VB-20
    
    Commanding officer: CDR R. E. Riera
    - 34 x SB2C-3
  - VT-20
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR S. L. Prickett
    - 19 x TBM-1C

San Jacinto (CVL-30)

Commanding officer: CAPT H. M. Kernoodle
- Air Group 51
  
  Commanding officer: CDR C. L. Moore
  - VF-51
    
    Commanding officer: CDR Moore
    - 14 x F6F-3
    - 5 x F6F-5
  - VT-51
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR D. J. Melvin
    - 7 x TBM-1C

Belleau Wood (CVL-24)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. Perry
- Air Group 21
  
  Commanding officer: LCDR V. F. Casey
  - VF-21
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR Casey
    - 24 x F6F-5
    - 1 x F6F-5P
  - VT-21
    
    Commanding officer: LCDR R. A. Kennard
    - 9 x TBM-1C

New Orleans (CA-32)

Commanding officer: CAPT J. E. Hurf
Biloxi (CL-80)

Commanding officer: CAPT P. R. Heineman

Notes: To Task Group 38.2 on October 22.

Destroyer Squadron 6

CAPT V. D. Long

Maury (DD-401)

Commanding officer: CDR J. W. Koenig
Gridley (DD-380)

Commanding officer: CDR P. D. Quirk
Helm (DD-388)

Commanding officer: CDR S. K. Santmyers
McCall (DD-400)

Commanding officer: LCDR J. B. Carroll

Destroyer Division 12

CAPT K. F. Poehlman

Mugford (DD-389)

Commanding officer: CDR M. A. Shellabarger
Bagley (DD-386)

Commanding officer: CDR W. H. Shea
Patterson (DD-392)

Commanding officer: LCDR W. A. Hering
Ralph Talbot (DD-390)

Commanding officer: L CDR W. S. Brown

Destroyer Division 24

CAPT A. J. Greenacre

Wilkes (DD-441)

Commanding officer: LCDR F. E. McEntire
Nicholson (DD-442)

Commanding officer: CDR W. C. Bennett
Swanson (DD-443)

Commanding officer: LCDR W. K. Ratliff

Sources

Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by Lacroix and Wells
Battleships: Axis and Neutral Battleships in World War II by Garzke and Dulin
History of U. S. Naval Operations in WW II: Vol 12, Leyte by S. E. Morison
The Battle of Leyte Gulf by C. Vann Woodward
Battle History of the IJN by Dull