US Naval War College, 1957. — 926 p. Confidental.
This analysis of the OOOO October 20th - 1042 October 23rd phase of the Battle for Leyte Gulf which embraces in general the operations wherein SOWESPAC forces, supported by POA forces, seized footholds in the Leyte Gulf area of the Philippines, and the Japanese reactions thereto, was prepared by the Naval War College. It is based on information from both Allied and Japanese sources which is wider and more complete than that available to writers on this subject up to this time. It endeavors to maintain at all times, the viewpoint of the commanders of the units on both sides. It follows directly the preliminary phases including the Battle off Formosa, which were analysed in Volume I and next phase which embraced the operations of the SEVENTH Fleet Advance Forces in Leyte Gulf prior to D-day which were analysed in Volume II. A knowledge of both of these phases is essential for the proper understanding of Volume HI. Complete information from all sources was not available to this analysis. This is especially true of Japanese Army and Navy aircraft in the Philippines the sources for which commencing with October 23rd have become less and less complete, and Japanese submarine operations and dispositions. It is also true concerning the thought processes which motivated the principle Japanese senior commanders. All known sources for obtaining information in the United States and in Japan have been examined and reexamined with only limited success on the Japanese side, but with somewhat more success on the Allied side since, during the past several years, some new material, largely in the form of dispatches, has been located. Notwithstanding, new facts and circumstances may come to light from time to time which may change some of the analysis produced herein. In view of the critical nature of this analysis an effort has been made in certain important situations to place the critic in the position of the commander in order to obtain the latter s point of view. In employing this system it is realized that although the critic can often succeed in placing himself sufficiently near the position of the commander for any practical purposes, in many instances he may not succeed in doing so. Because of the nature of the Allied victory at Leyte Gulf and the numerous controversies which have arisen concerning it, as complete a study as possible of the operations of this phase has been provided. Additionally, a video of the Battle of Leyte Gulf is posted, with a total duration of 50 minutes.