During World War II in the Philippines, the naval combat known as the Battle of Leyte Gulf took place from October 23rd to the 26th, 1944. It included a number of separate engagements and proved to be a watershed moment in the Pacific theater of war. The United States and its allies fought against the Imperial Japanese Navy in this war.

Kamikaze attacks, in which Japanese pilots deliberately crash their planes into American ships, were first used in this conflict. A complex confrontation ensued, with naval gunfire, airstrikes, and surface fleets clashing.

The Japanese intended to sabotage the Allied liberation of the Philippines, but they were unable to do so because to the concerted efforts of the American military. Several of the Japanese greatest warships were sunk, and they sustained heavy casualties. Japan’s naval might was severely diminished in this fight, hastening the country’s defeat in the Pacific War.

One of the largest naval engagements in history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf illustrates the intricacies of naval warfare and the enormous strategic significance of controlling vital sectors. The outcome of this battle had far-reaching consequences for the rest of the war and helped hasten Japan’s eventual collapse.