Figure 1.--The battle for Leyte is barely covered comared to the detailed coverage of the naval battle fought offshore for Leyte Gulf. The land battle was, however, one of the largest battles of the Pacific War. It clearly showed that a the Japanese could not fight a set piece battle with the U.S. Army like they did in China. After Leyte, the battle doctrine of the Japanese Army was simply to dig in and try to kill as many Americans as possible while United Sttes forces had to assault those positions. Leyte was the first of the Philippines Islands to be liberated. This little Filipino boy's quiet world was suddenly interupted by one of the major battles of the Pacific War. The boy, who may have never seen an American before, gets off a snappy salute as a U.S. Coast Guard combat photographer takes his picture on liberated Leyte. We are not sure just what he is holding.

Thanks to the dogged resistance of outgunned American destroyers and escort carriers, the Japanese battleships and cruisers did not break through to disrupt the Leyte landings. What followed was the decisive ground battle of the Pacific War. Unlike most Pacific island battles, it was not just the Japanese digging in and waiting for the American advance. The Japanese fought a three-dimensonal battle. They launched a major counter offenive aimed at redicing the American bridgehead and capturing General MacArthur. The Japanese even committed paratroopers. And unlike Guadalcanal, the Japanese had not only substantial and well-armed forces in play, but the full might of the Imperial Fleet would be committed. It would also be the last air battles before the Japanese turned to full scale Kamakazee tactics. Despite the importance of the battle for Leyte, it is surely the least covered of the important Pacific island battles. One author writes, "The land campaign for Leyte involved more than two hundred thousand American soldiers, far more than the number of sailors and Marines who fought the thee-day Battle of Leyte Gulf. These soldiers, many of whom spent the entire four months deep in hevy jungles, fighting in spite of typhoons and the rainy season, basically destroyed the fabric of the planned Japanese defense of the entire Philippines. For the Japanese High Commnd had decided, albeit late, that rather than fight the decisive battle for the Philippines on Luzon, it woud be fought on Leyte." [Prefer] The American Army forces advanced steadily. The Battle of Leyte was fought for more than 2 months. The fighting over rugged terraine was vicious and the Japanese resisted the American advance. The terraine precented the Army from bringing its firepower fully to bear. American air power could, however, hammer the most remote Japanese position. Navy F6F Hellcats and P-51 fighters from land air fields played a major role in the fighting. The Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and were well dug into hillside positions defended by pill boxes and casemates as well as natural caves. The climax of the battle occurred with the ferrocious fighting at Break Neck Ridge and nearby Kilay Ridges (early November). The battle was initiated by by the U.S. Army 21st Infantry Division. Japanese resistance from carefully prepared defensive positions was determined if not fanatical. The Japanese in the end could not match American fire power. The battle was joined by the 1st Cavalry Division and the 32nd Infantry Division. Japanese units in the area was destroyed (December 14). The Americans thus pushed the Japanese 35th Army out of Leyte's central valley and into the islands mountain backbone. Bitter fighting ensued as the Americans pushed the Japanese north. Further landings occurred at Ormoc, an important port (December 7). After breaking through at Break Neck Ridge and Kilay Ridges the advancing American units met less organized Japanese resistance as they moved north. The 1st Cavalry Division reached the coast (December 28). The 24th Division reduced thd the last Japanese positions from the northwest corner of Leyte on (December 28). They then met 32nd Division patrols (December 30). Scattered resistance continued another day (December 31). It is at this time that the fighting shifted to Luzon, but because of the Japanese effort on Leyte, the defense of Luzon would be essentilly proforma. The Japanese would never again attempt to slug it out with the Americans. From now on thy would continue the war from fortified bunkers in an effort to bleed the Americans as much as possible.

Landings (October 20-21)

The U.S. Sixth Army, after an intensive two-day naval bombardment, on the northeastern coast of Leyte , the island southeast of Luzon--the main prize (October 20, 1944). The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid provided transport and protection for the 175,000-man landing force. The landings were successful and at first only encounteed light resistance and achieved their asigned targets. MacArthur made his long anticipated return on the first day. He was accompanied by President Sergio Osmeña, General Basilio Valdez, and General Carlos Romulo. They came ashore with the third assault wave. The US 7th Cavalry Regiment reached Tacloban, the capital of Leyte (October21). The Filipinos greeted them ethusiativally as they entered the city. The Japanese had many well prepared ositions as the Americans moved north. The US 8th Cavalry Regiment secured the high ground around Tacloban (October2). After reaching Tacloban the U.S. soldiers saw that they had both amilitary and a humanitarian mission. The Filipino population in Tacloban and other towns were in a poor state neededing both food and shelter. Japanese occupation had disruptedcthevlocal ecinomy. Soldiers shared their rations and opened up the Japanese warehouses.

Japanese Response

Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita, known as the Tiger of Malaya for his masterful cmpaignthere, wanted to fight the principal battle for the Pilppines on Luzon and deployed the bulk of his forces there. Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo (IGHQ) fecided to fight it out on Leyte and moved forces from other areas to Leyte, including forces from China. Yamashita wanted those forces to strengthen his defense of Luzon. IGHQ also ordered Yamashita to shiftsome of his Luzon force to reinforce Leyte after the units there took heavy casualties. As a result, the decisive lattle for the Philippines was fought on Leyte. Yamashita was certaily one of the best commanders in the Imperial Japanese Army, but IGHQ may have been correct. The rugged terraine of Leyte was Japan's greatest advntage in thevbattle. The flat terrine of central Luzon would have allowed the United States to make best use of its advantage in fire power.

Naval Battle off Samar (October 25, 1944)

The Naval Battle off Samar was the climatic phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf--the greatest naval battle in history. Samar is a small island off Leyte. The Japanese threw what was left of the Imperial Fleet into the battle of Leyte Gulf. They attacked in three groups, the Northern, Center, and Southern Force. Admiral Halsey's 3rd Fleet attacked the Center Force in the Sibuyan Sea, sinking the massive Musashi (October 24). Admiral Takeo Kurita turned his Center Force back. Thinking the landing force was secure, Halsey was drawn north by the Japanese Northern Force, consisting of toothless carriers--without substantial air components. Again, unknown to Halsey, Kurita changed his mind and turned toward Leyte Gulf again. They passed through the San Bernadino Straits undetected and headed south where the undefended American transports and cargo vessels were unloading supplies and equipment. They were first spotted by a astonished Taffy 3 a small taskforce of destroyers, destoyer escorts, and escort carriers--the Tin Can Sailors (October 25). This was one of the greatest mismatches in naval history. Hopelessly outgunned, Taffy 3 knowing that that the cargo vessels in Leyte Gulf were defenseless, made a heoic stand off Samar. They suffered grevious losses, but the Japanese battleships and cruisers. incluing the massive Yamato did not break through to disrupt the Leyte landings. Adm. Kurita inexplicbly turned his force back for a third time. Given the Japanese penchnt for banzai attacks, Kurita's decesion to turn back his heavy vessels is hard to understand. He convinced himself that he had encountred Adm. Halsey's main force and that transports and cargo vessels were not a worthy target. The Southern Force was destoyed in Surigao Strait (October 25).

Fighting on Leyte (October-December 1944)

What followed was the decisive ground battle of the Pacific War. Unlike most Pacific island battles after Guadalcanal, it was not just the Japanese digging in and waiting for the American advance. The Japanese fought a three-dimensonal battle. They launched a major counter offenive aimed at reducing the American bridgehead and capturing General MacArthur. The Japanese even committed paratroopers. And unlike Guadalcanal, the Japanese had not only substantial and well-armed forces in play, but the full might of the Imperial Fleet would be committed. It would also be the last air battles before the Japanese turned to full scale Kamakazee tactics. Despite the importance of the battle for Leyte, it is surely the least covered of the important Pacific island battles. One author writes, "The land campaign for Leyte involved more than two hundred thousand American soldiers, far more than the number of sailors and Marines who fought the three-day Battle of Leyte Gulf. These soldiers, many of whom spent the entire four months deep in heavy jungles, fighting in spite of typhoons and the rainy season, basically destroyed the fabric of the planned Japanese defense of the entire Philippines. For the Japanese High Commnd had decided, albeit late, that rather than fight the decisive battle for the Philippines on Luzon, it woud be fought on Leyte." [Prefer] The American Army forces advanced steadily. The Battle of Leyte was fought for more than 2 months. The fighting over rugged terraine was vicious and the Japanese resisted the American advance tenciously . The terraine precented the Army from bringing its firepower fully to bear. American air power could, however, hammer the most remote Japanese position. Navy F6F Hellcats and P-51 fighters from land air fields played a major role in the fighting. The Japanese soldiers refused to surrender and were well dug into hillside positions defended by pill boxes and casemates as well as natural caves. The climax of the battle occurred with the ferrocious fighting at Break Neck Ridge and nearby Kilay Ridges (early November). The battle was initiated by by the U.S. Army 21st Infantry Division. Japanese resistance from carefully prepared defensive positions was determined if not fanatical. The Japanese in the end could not match American fire power. The battle was joined by the 1st Cavalry Division and the 32nd Infantry Division. Japanese units in the area was destroyed (December 14). The Americans thus pushed the Japanese 35th Army out of Leyte's central valley and into the islands mountain backbone. Bitter fighting ensued as the Americans forced the Japanese north. Further landings occurred at Ormoc, an important port (December 7). After breaking through at Break Neck Ridge and Kilay Ridges the advancing American units met less organized Japanese resistance as they moved north. The 1st Cavalry Division reached the coast (December 28). The 24th Division reduced thd the last Japanese positions from the northwest corner of Leyte on (December 28). They then met 32nd Division patrols (December 30). Scattered resistance continued another day (December 31).

Luzon

Aftr reaching the northern coast, the fighting shifted to Luzon. Buy because of the Japanese shifting men from Luzon to Leyte and making their major effort there, they were no longer in a position to resist the Americans on Luzon. The defense of Luzon would be essentilly proforma. The Japanese would never again attempt to slug it out with the Americans. From now on thy would continue the war from fortified bunkers in an effort to bleed the Americans as much as possible. The terine of eastern Luzon was very rugged. Gen. MacArthur had already decided that th invasion of Luzon should be an amphibious landing at Linguyan Gulf, the same place the Japanese has landed in 1941.

Sources

Prefer, Nathan N. Leyte 1944: The Soldier's Battle (2012), 336p.

Created: 11:36 AM 8/12/2014
Last updated: 4:19 PM 1/14/2016