The Battle for Leyte Gulf
23-26 October 1944

 The Japanese Southern Force

The heavy cruiser Ashigara  -  part of Vice Admiral Shima's Force C  - seen here in Spithead at the 1937 Coronation Naval Review

BB = BATTLESHIP - CA = HEAVY CRUISER - CL = LIGHT CRUISER  -  DD = DESTROYER

(S) = Sunk in the battle

'Southern Force' consisted of two groups, the larger (Force 'C') commanded by Vice-Admiral Nishimura,
and the much smaller 'Second Striking Force' by Vice-Admiral Shima.

These two groups were meant to carry out a co-ordinated attack, but failed to do so.

Force 'C'

(Van of the Southern Force)

(V. Adm. Shoji Nishimura in battleship Yamashiro)

2 Battleships,  1 Heavy Cruisers,  4 Destroyers as follows -

Battleship Division 2 (Vice Admiral Nishimura):  2 BB Yamashiro (S), Fuso (S)

1 CA Mogami (S)(detached from Cruiser Division 5)

Destroyer Division 4:  DD Michisio (S), Yamagumo (S), Asagumo (S)

DD Shigure (detached from Destroyer Squadron 2)

Second Striking Force

(Rear of Southern force)

(V. Adm. Kiyohide Shima in heavy cruiser Nachi)

2 Heavy Cruisers,  1 Light Cruiser,  7 Destroyers as follows -


Cruiser Division 21 (Vice Admiral Shima):  2 CA (Nachi, Ashigara)

CL Abukuma (S)

DD Kasumi, Shiranuhi (S), Wakaba (S), Hatsuharu, Hatsushimo, Akebono, Ushio

 The US Seventh Fleet

The Seventh Fleet battle line - battleship row fights again

The Battle of Surigao Strait - narrative

 Leyte Gulf - a brief narrative of the battle

Leyte Gulf - Index



Acknowledgments

The picture of heavy cruiser Ashigara at the head of page is reproduced with thanks from
"Japanese Warships of World War II" by A.J. Watts (Ian Allan, London 1966)