Leyte Gulf: Armada In The Pacific

Ballantine's Illustrated History of World War II / the Violent Century: Battle #11

by Donald Macintyre

Vintage WWII paperback

Genres: History, World War II, American History, Military History

160 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 1970

About the author

Commander Donald George Frederick Wyville Macintyre DSO & DSC was a Royal Navy officer during the Second World War and a successful convoy escort commander. As Commander of HMS Hesperus Macintyre was involved in the Battle of Narvik during the Norway campaign and the Battle of the Atlantic. Following the war, he published his memoirs U-Boat Killer and authored numerous books on British naval history.

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun little pocket history from "Ballantine's Illustrated History of WWII" cool little series of the 60s and 70s. In their taut little 160 page format - Donald Macintyre, a naval man himself- tells the story of Japan's last Real chance to stop an Allied landing on the Philippines. Their complex SHO-1 plan to defeat the Massed American Pacific Fleet- This was the first time Macarthur and Nimitz/Halsey had cooperated - was mainly defeated in detail. But in the Samar Sea, -Japanese Admiral Kurita with Powerful Battleships, Cruisers and Destroyers- found himself facing only a thin screen of Light Carriers (There was such a thing in WWII- carried 12 -18 fighters- 12-16 Bombers -used for Anti-sub and Amphibious Assaults to ) and their Destroyer escorts (really there for Anti-Submarine work). Taffy 2 and Taffy 3 the two light carrier groups had to fight for their own lives- and the lives of the entire Invasion fleet that was only a few miles south of their location. If I tell you my own father was on one of those transports, waiting to land on D+9, you will understand that this story never gets old.
Aside from excellent if brief history and analysis, the book is of course crammed with loads of black and white pictures- as well as some very good drawings of aircraft used in the battles. This was the last of the great carrier battles- as the Japanese had already sacrificed their Naval Aviation New Wave of Pilots in a Quixotic attempt to stop some raids on Formosa. What what left was used in a plan with many moving parts- the story is very compelling- its the last "Fair Fight" of the Pacific War. Told well.
For the junior reader- this is a great little read - a great way to transition to more serious fare. I think kids down to 9 can handle this, if they are the voracious reader types. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast- a wonderful starter point- or just enough for the WarHammer Player to understand Carrier Warfare before taking the plunge down at the local store/club. I think this is a book that gets you fired up for other books on the topic. It did for me.

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent short synopsis of the defining battle that ended any dominance of the IJN in the South Pacific. Even though it’s been forty-five years since I read this book, the Ballantine series was the best primer to get young people interested in the most catastrophic event of the twentieth century.
And for only $1.00, what more could a novice want?

Four stars

[Andrea Di Bernardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today's book is a classic of naval historiography. "Leyte Gulf, armada in the Pacific" by the historian and veteran of the Royal Navy Donald MacIntyre has the narrative simplicity of the book of yesteryear and tells the events of one of the last great naval battles of the Second World War. The Battle of the Gulf of Leyte is in fact a series of naval actions that saw the destruction of the last surface forces of the Japanese Imperial Navy capable of disturbing the US Navy steamroller.
The Italian version of the book features an interesting introduction by the famous naval historian Giorgio Giorgerini. The prologue instead describes well how the clash in the sea near the Philippine islands was reached, the nerve center of the strategy desired and imposed by General MacArthur and by his promise made two years earlier to the Filipino people "I will return".
This strategy which lengthened the war but which deprived Japan of the primary material and supplies for the continuation of the war coming from the Southwest Pacific, was opposed by the Japanese imperial forces with the use of the last surface reserves, to the point of characterizing this battle as the largest battle fought by the naval (by total tonnage) and aeronaval forces. But the peculiar characteristic is that in it there were some actions of considerable interest, not least the use for the first time of the Kamikaze.
What immediately appears to the reader is the overall size of the US naval forces, which were now characterized by the centrality of the aircraft carrier as the fulcrum of each fleet. In the book, every action deserves a chapter, which might actually seem short but which is quite comprehensive. The book is in fact an excellent introduction to the battle although this year it has turned 50 years since its release. In the coming weeks I will stay on this battle by reviewing two books about it or "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" (Graphic novel taken from Hornfischer's book) concerning the heroic defense of aircraft carriers off Samar by the US unit Taffy 3 and a nice book about Kamikaze (Adrian Stewart) which obviously describes the baptism of fire but also the subsequent use of this iconic corps.
Returning to the book, each of the various phases of the battle is described with excellent maps that narrate the tactics adopted by the Japanese forces to lure Admiral "Bull" Halsey into the trap, taking him away from the beachhead in the Gulf of Leyte. There the newly disembarked troops in the Philippines would have been vulnerable to attack by the bulk of the Japanese forces from the west. It was precisely the sacrifice of Taffy 3 or better of his escort units "Tin Can Sailors", that made a difference and pushed Admiral Kurita with the powerful battleship Yamato to reverse course and return to the west, saving only part of the attack force. I will describe this event better in the future review of "The Last Stand of theTin Can Soldiers" which I will review shortly.
What more can we say? The Battle of the Gulf of Leyte highlighted all the typical characteristics of American and Japanese commanders, above all the impulsiveness of Halsey, the courage of Sprague (commander of Taffy 3), the realism of Kurita. However, if Kurita himself had had more courage perhaps the Sho-Go plan would have been successful, delaying the end of the war or at least inflicting heavy losses and a serious problem for McArthur and Halsey. McIntyre's book is extremely enjoyable and although out of print it is readily available on the second-hand market.

[D-day · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the Ballantine's History of WW2 series with a solid overview of the largest naval battle in history following the US invasion of the Philippines in Oct 1944. The battle is so large in fact, that historians often sub divide the battle down in to several individual battles.

The book is full of maps, and photos and an easily readable style, perfect for an adolescent me to follow and enjoy.

[Matthew De · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very short but gave a detailed overview of the battle of Leyte Gulf.

[Andrew Wardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very good monograph about famous battles of WWII. It would be hard to make this one dull: the largest naval battle in history as the enormous US fleet, assembled to protect the landings in the Philippines, tempts the Japanese Navy to try one last gamble and turn the tide of Allied victories....... And it is very well done, accounts of the heroism of the ordinary sailors balanced well with historical analysis. The account of the USS Birmingham coming to the aid of the carrier USS Princeton, and the self-sacrifice of its sailors, makes it clear that these were no ordinary men. The author handles the complex chronology of the four connected battles very well. My one cavil is the prologue by the overall "consultant" on the series, the British historian Sir Basil Liddell-Hart. He abandons all objectivity to support Admiral "Bull" Halsey's astonishing decision to abandon his main mission (the protection of the fleet supporting the US landings) for the pursuit of the remaining four Japanese aircraft carriers. This, for a historian with hindsight, is an extraordinary judgement. Even at the time it was strongly suspected that the Japanese carriers had few aeroplanes and even fewer experienced pilots; knowing what we do now, Halsey was 100% wrong. Especially as he took away not only his carriers but Admiral Willis Lee's 6 battleships from the fleet in Leyte Gulf. Since he anyway anticipated a carrier battle, and had no time for the "Big Gun Club" and their battleships, this was a ludicrous, crass, grossly negligent decision, only redeemed by Admiral Kurita's indecisiveness in the face of certain victory. Willis Lee's post-action report says it all: "No casualties sustained (or inflicted) by Task Force 34". i.e. his battleships, which would have shattered the last desperate Japanese try for victory in Leyte Gulf, were instead wasted in a battle in which they played no part. But Liddell-Hart always favoured the dashing, romantic commanders over the prosaic professionals. The author of this book, Donald Macintyre, politely sets him straight.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖊 My review: An excellent history book.
🤔 My rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
📕 Media form: Read from my private library.
✿●▬●✿●✿●▬●✿