Quote:
Originally Posted by Apache
Everyone should read about Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") off Samar Island. They consisted of 6 CVE Escort Carriers, 3 Destroyers and 4 Destroyer Escorts. They attacked 23 Japanese Ships including Destroyers, Cruisers and Battleships, including the Yamato. While the Carriers fled and launched planes the Destroyers and DE's and planes attacked. The planes continued to harass the Japanese ships even after they ran out of bombs and ammo. They succeeded in driving off the Japanese while loosing two CVE's, 2 DD's and One DE. All of the surviving ships were damaged. An amazing story of heroism in the face of overwhelming odds.
If you can find a copy you should read: United States Destroyer Action in World War II by Theodore Roscoe. This book is a history of every battle the included Destroyers in WWII. The narration of the Battle of Samar Island is just one of the many Naval Battles of WWII.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Samar
Apache |
To try to keep us at least somewhat on topic
, U.S. submarines were a significant part of the
numerous battles that went on then, over I
think a 3-day or so period. I
think that they may have destroyed and/or damaged some Japanese military "capital" ships.
In a kind of reversal of roles, American submarines took an enormous toll on Japanese shipping, as the Germans did on American/British shipping (for two main periods during WWII). The big difference is that the Americans/British found answers to their sub problem; the Japanese never did find answers to their sub problem.
A 2-volume set of books on the work of American submarines in WWII is
The Silent Service. I have not read these, but I have heard good things about them. I suggest that you check the ratings/reviews at Amazon and/or GoodReads, for better information than that.