Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a large naval battle during World War II. It took place from October 23 to October 26, 1944. The battle happened in the waters around Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. A gulf is a large part of the sea that reaches into land. The battle involved many warships, airplanes, and submarines. It is often described as the largest naval battle in history.

The battle occurred after United States forces landed on the island of Leyte. The Philippines had been occupied by Japan earlier in the war. Occupied means controlled by a foreign military. The United States wanted to regain control of the islands. This would cut off Japan from important supplies from Southeast Asia. Japan decided to use most of its remaining navy to stop the landings.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was not one single fight. It was made up of several related battles. These included the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle off Samar, and the Battle of Cape Engaño. Each part took place in a different area around the Philippines. Ships from both sides moved through narrow seas and open waters.

Many types of ships were used in the battle. These included battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, and destroyers. An aircraft carrier is a large ship that carries airplanes. Battleships are heavily armed ships with large guns. Airplanes played an important role by attacking ships from the air. Submarines were also used to sink enemy vessels.

One notable part of the battle was the Battle off Samar. In this action, smaller United States ships faced much larger Japanese ships. Despite being outnumbered, the U.S. forces resisted strongly. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Japan also used kamikaze attacks for the first time in a large battle. A kamikaze attack involved a pilot deliberately crashing an airplane into a ship.

By the end of the battle, Japan had lost many ships and experienced sailors. The losses were so great that the Japanese navy could no longer fight major battles at sea. The United States and its allies gained control of the waters around the Philippines. The Battle of Leyte Gulf marked a turning point in the Pacific War, which was the part of World War II fought in Asia and the Pacific Ocean.