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The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the greatest naval engagement in history. This battle featured forces from the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and the United States Navy (USN).

Early in the morning of October 3, 1944 two USN submarines, Darter and Dace, spotted an enemy fleet entering the Palawan passage. The Japanese fleet was not in a typical formation to stave off unexpected submarine attacks. Darter moved in to attack, after radioing to the US fleet. The Darter was able to hit two of the Japanese ships, the Atago (Vice-Admiral Kurita’s flagship) and the Takao. Both of these ships were heavy cruisers. The Darter was able to hit the Atago successfully four times, ripping the ship completely apart. The Atago sank within 20 minutes of the first torpedo. Kurita was able to abandon ship, and was later picked up by a destroyer and moved to the battleship Yamato. The Takao was stalked most of the night, but did not sink. The Darter ran into an uncharted reef, and had to call the Dace, which had sunk a ship of its own and wounded another, for help. The Dace called off its pursuit an attended to the Darter. This allowed the Takao to limp back to friendly Japanese waters. Meanwhile the Japanese fleet moved into the Sibuyan Sea.

*Calendar of Events - The Battle of Leyte Gulf - October, 1944*
Date	Event
October 20	General Douglas MacArthur lands on Leyte Island and starts his long-held goal to recapture the Philippines.
October 23	American submarines ambush the Japanese Center Force in Palawan Passage.
October 24	Japanese aircraft attack the American Third Fleet. The light carrier Princeton is lost.
October 24	The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. The Japanese lose the battleship Musashi.
October 24-25	The Battle of Surigao Strait. The American Navy defeats the Japanese Southern Force.
October 24-25	The Japanese Northern Force lures all of Admiral Halsey’s Task Force 38 north, leaving the San Bernardino Strait unguarded.
October 25	Admiral Shima’s cruiser force fails to support the Japanese Southern Force and instead retreats.
October 25	The Battle off Samar. American planes and ships defeat the Japanese Center Force in air and surface battles.
October 25	The Battle off Cape Engaño. The Northern Force is destroyed.

Source for the timeline:

http://www.battle-of-leyte-gulf.com/blg_synopsis/Timeline/timeline.shtml

The timeline was written by Kenneth I. Friedman, Ph.D. Afternoon of the Rising Sun, is his newest book.

Sources: http://www.odyssey.dircon.co.uk/LEYTE_GULF_Summary_of_the_Battle_.htm http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/leyte_gulf.htm