Part 5 (1/2)

Five battles.h.i.+ps and ten heavy cruisers steamed in three columns at sixteen knots, without an anti-submarine screen. This was all the more astonis.h.i.+ng since the j.a.panese intercepted the American radio transmission, and thus knew submarines were at hand. At 0632, Darter Darter fired six torpedoes at the cruiser fired six torpedoes at the cruiser Atago Atago, Kurita's flags.h.i.+p, from point-blank range-980 yards-then loosed her stern tubes at the cruiser Takao Takao from 1,550 yards. from 1,550 yards. Atago Atago was. .h.i.t four times, was. .h.i.t four times, Takao Takao twice. twice. Dace Dace's skipper, Bladen Claggett, whipped up his periscope to see ”the sight of a lifetime”: Atago Atago billowing black smoke and orange flame, sinking fast by the bow. billowing black smoke and orange flame, sinking fast by the bow. Takao Takao, though hit hard in the stern, remained afloat. Claggett heard two huge explosions. ”I have never heard anything like it,” wrote the submarine skipper. ”The soundmen reported that it sounded as if the bottom of the ocean was blowing up...Heard tremendous breaking-up noises. This was the most gruesome sound I have ever heard.” The diving officer said: ”We'd better get the h.e.l.l out of here.”

Admiral Kurita and his staff swam from the stricken Atago Atago to the destroyer to the destroyer Kis.h.i.+nami Kis.h.i.+nami, and thence transferred to the great battles.h.i.+p Yamato Yamato. Some 360 of Atago Atago's crew drowned, including almost all the admiral's communications staff. If Kurita's conduct thereafter was clumsy, no fifty-five-year-old could have found it easy to exercise command after suffering such a personal trauma. Darter Darter's sister boat Dace Dace launched four torpedoes at the cruiser launched four torpedoes at the cruiser Maya Maya and heard huge explosions, signalling her end. Belated j.a.panese destroyer attacks prevented either submarine from firing again. Kurita's s.h.i.+ps increased speed to twenty-four knots to escape the killing ground. The first action of Leyte Gulf had inflicted substantial damage on the j.a.panese before they fired a shot. Some officers of ”Centre Force,” as Kurita's squadron was designated, expressed rueful admiration for the American submarines' achievement: ”Why can't our people and heard huge explosions, signalling her end. Belated j.a.panese destroyer attacks prevented either submarine from firing again. Kurita's s.h.i.+ps increased speed to twenty-four knots to escape the killing ground. The first action of Leyte Gulf had inflicted substantial damage on the j.a.panese before they fired a shot. Some officers of ”Centre Force,” as Kurita's squadron was designated, expressed rueful admiration for the American submarines' achievement: ”Why can't our people267 pull off a stunt like that?” Why not, indeed? This first American success was made possible by a tactical carelessness amounting to recklessness, which would characterise almost every j.a.panese action in those days. However gloomy were Kurita and his officers about the operation they had undertaken, it is extraordinary that they spurned elementary precautions. j.a.panese behaviour suggested a resignation to death much stronger than the will to fight. In this t.i.tanic clash, a once-great navy was to conduct itself in a fas.h.i.+on that would have invited ridicule, were not such great issues and so many lives at stake. pull off a stunt like that?” Why not, indeed? This first American success was made possible by a tactical carelessness amounting to recklessness, which would characterise almost every j.a.panese action in those days. However gloomy were Kurita and his officers about the operation they had undertaken, it is extraordinary that they spurned elementary precautions. j.a.panese behaviour suggested a resignation to death much stronger than the will to fight. In this t.i.tanic clash, a once-great navy was to conduct itself in a fas.h.i.+on that would have invited ridicule, were not such great issues and so many lives at stake.

It was now plain to the Americans that Kurita's s.h.i.+ps were headed for the San Bernardino Strait, at the north end of Samar Island. On reaching its eastern exit, they intended to turn south for the seven-hour run to Leyte Gulf, and MacArthur's invasion anchorage. The second j.a.panese squadron, under Admiral Shoji Nis.h.i.+mura, had also been spotted, steaming towards the same objective from the south, past Mindanao. Halsey dared not lead his own battles.h.i.+ps into San Bernardino, which had been heavily mined by the j.a.panese. Instead, he ordered three fast carrier groups to close the range and launch air strikes. The j.a.panese, however, moved first. Three groups of fifty aircraft apiece, flying from Luzon, attacked the carriers of Sherman's Task Group 3. A long, bitter battle ensued. One h.e.l.lcat pilot, the famous Cmdr. David McCampbell, shot down nine j.a.panese planes, his wingman six; five other pilots claimed two each. McCampbell had initially been rejected for flight training back in 1933, because of poor eyesight. Yet the aggression indispensable to all fighter pilots made him one of the most successful of the navy's war. ”It's compet.i.tive all the way268 through,” he said wryly. On 24 October 1944, nearly all the prizes were won by the Americans. The j.a.panese attacking force was almost wiped out. through,” he said wryly. On 24 October 1944, nearly all the prizes were won by the Americans. The j.a.panese attacking force was almost wiped out.

Just one Judy dive-bomber penetrated the American screen and landed a 550-pound bomb on the light carrier Princeton Princeton, crowded with planes preparing for take-off. Fuel caught fire, torpedoes exploded, hundreds of desperate men crowded the flight deck. At 1010, half an hour after the initial explosion, all crewmen save damage-control parties abandoned s.h.i.+p. The cruiser Birmingham Birmingham steamed close alongside to help fight steamed close alongside to help fight Princeton Princeton's fires, sending thirty-eight volunteers aboard the stricken carrier. A jeep and a tractor slid from Princeton Princeton's lofty deck onto the destroyer Morrison Morrison, which was taking off men while using machine guns to ward off sharks from survivors in the water. Princeton Princeton's agony continued for 21/2 hours, until a new j.a.panese air raid was signalled. Birmingham Birmingham temporarily stood off. After temporarily stood off. After Lexington Lexington's h.e.l.lcats broke up the attackers, however, the heroic cruiser closed in once more, and tried to take Princeton Princeton in tow. in tow.

A huge explosion in the carrier's torpedo stowage put an end to the salvage attempt, and inflicted shocking damage on Birmingham Birmingham. The s.h.i.+p's war diary recorded: ”Dead, dying and wounded, many of them b.l.o.o.d.y and horrible, covered the decks...Blood ran freely down the waterways.” The hulk of Princeton Princeton was sunk by American torpedoes. was sunk by American torpedoes. Birmingham Birmingham retired from the fleet, ”a dockyard case.” Amazingly, thanks to the courage and skill displayed aboard all the s.h.i.+ps involved, only 108 men died and 190 were wounded. If this was a bitter morning for Halsey's TG3, it was also a time for pride. retired from the fleet, ”a dockyard case.” Amazingly, thanks to the courage and skill displayed aboard all the s.h.i.+ps involved, only 108 men died and 190 were wounded. If this was a bitter morning for Halsey's TG3, it was also a time for pride.

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, 2325 October 1944

Third Fleet's first air strike fell upon Kurita's s.h.i.+ps at 1026, followed by a second wave at 1245, another at 1550. Aboard a nearby American submarine, sailors eavesdropped on the airmen's radio chatter. One pilot interrupted his controller's instructions impatiently: ”Let's get this over with269.” Then there was a clamour of yells: ”Yippee! I've got a battles.h.i.+p!” followed by: ”All right, let the battles.h.i.+p alone. Line up on the cruiser.” Kurita was now flying his flag in Yamato Yamato, in uneasy concourse with Ugaki, who commanded the battles.h.i.+p element from the same s.h.i.+p, and despised his superior. The admiral pleaded in vain with sh.o.r.e command for air support. This was refused, on the absurd grounds that fighters were more profitably engaged in attacking U.S. carriers. Here, once again, was the j.a.panese obsession with the inherent virtue of offensive action, matched by impatience with the humdrum requirements of defence. Kurita was obliged to watch, almost impotent, as American aircraft struck his s.h.i.+ps again and again.

Avenger gunner Sherwin Goodman was quietly contemplating the sky amidst a huge formation of American aircraft when his thoughts were interrupted: ”It was a beautiful day270...My goodness, what have we got here?” It was the Yamato Yamato group, far below them. The torpedo-carriers dropped and circled, to reach firing positions. Goodman rotated his turret forward, and could see only gun flashes from the enemy s.h.i.+ps: ”It looked like a tunnel of fire.” At a thousand yards, they released their torpedo, the plane lifted, and Goodman cried at his pilot, ”Break left! Break left!” Gazing down as they swung away, he exclaimed triumphantly: ”We hit him!” Their victim was the light cruiser group, far below them. The torpedo-carriers dropped and circled, to reach firing positions. Goodman rotated his turret forward, and could see only gun flashes from the enemy s.h.i.+ps: ”It looked like a tunnel of fire.” At a thousand yards, they released their torpedo, the plane lifted, and Goodman cried at his pilot, ”Break left! Break left!” Gazing down as they swung away, he exclaimed triumphantly: ”We hit him!” Their victim was the light cruiser Nos.h.i.+ro Nos.h.i.+ro, which sank almost immediately. Two American bombs caused slight damage to Yamato Yamato, giving Kurita another bad fright. His chief of staff was wounded by splinters.

Every gun in the j.a.panese fleet fired on the incoming Americans, yet achieved small success. Since 1942, U.S. s.h.i.+ps had made great strides in countering air attack by radio fighter direction, radar-controlled gunnery and radio-guided proximity sh.e.l.l fuses. The j.a.panese had not begun to match such advances. Their anti-aircraft defences were woefully inadequate. ”Our captain was a271 great gunnery enthusiast,” said Petty Officer Kisao Ebisawa, who served on a wars.h.i.+p through many U.S. air attacks. ”He was always telling us that we could shoot the Americans out of the sky. After innumerable raids in which our guns did not even scratch their wings, he was left looking pretty silly. When air attacks came in, there was nothing much we could do but pray.” great gunnery enthusiast,” said Petty Officer Kisao Ebisawa, who served on a wars.h.i.+p through many U.S. air attacks. ”He was always telling us that we could shoot the Americans out of the sky. After innumerable raids in which our guns did not even scratch their wings, he was left looking pretty silly. When air attacks came in, there was nothing much we could do but pray.”

On 24 October, huge ”beehive” sh.e.l.ls from the battles.h.i.+ps' main armament did more damage to their own gun barrels than to American planes, but pilots were shaken by the spectacle. ”It's nerve-racking,” said one, ”because you see the guns on the s.h.i.+ps go off. And then you wonder what in h.e.l.l you are going to do for the next ten or fifteen seconds while the sh.e.l.l gets there.” Amid the erupting black puffb.a.l.l.s in the sky, again and again American torpedo-and bomb-carrying aircraft got through unscathed.

The j.a.panese navy's Lt. Cmdr. Haruki Iki commanded a squadron of Jill torpedo-bombers, based at Clark Field on Luzon. On the twenty-fourth, entirely ignorant of Shogo, they were ordered to launch a ”maximum effort” mission in search of the American carriers. They could carry sufficient fuel only to reach Third Fleet. Early afternoon found Iki leading his formation of eighteen aircraft north-east over the sea. They received their first intimation of the desperate drama of the Combined Fleet when they saw far below the battles.h.i.+p Musas.h.i.+ Musas.h.i.+, under American attack. They had scarcely absorbed what was happening when h.e.l.lcats fell on them. A ma.s.sacre followed. As inexperienced pilots strove to jink out of American sights, within a matter of minutes fifteen j.a.panese planes were shot down. Two aircraft escaped back to Clark. Iki himself found refuge in cloud.

By the time he emerged, sky and sea were empty, his fuel exhausted. He turned south-east and ditched in shallow water a few hundred yards off the north sh.o.r.e of Leyte Island. He and his gunner stood on a wing waving at figures on the beach, who were plainly j.a.panese. Iki fired flares to attract attention. Eventually, a small boat approached. ”We're navy!” cried Iki. ”We're army,” the occupants of the boat responded dourly. Familiar animosity between the two services a.s.serted itself. The soldiers were alarmed to perceive that the plane's torpedo had fallen from the fuselage, and lay menacingly on the bottom, a few feet below. They pointed: ”Can't you do something about that thing?” ”Like what?” demanded Iki crossly. Eventually the soldiers were persuaded to close in and rescue the airmen. Once ash.o.r.e, Iki begged the local commander to signal his base, report his survival, and provide him with transport to get back. No message was sent, and it was a week before he reached Clark. He arrived to find that a memorial parade had just been held for himself and the rest of his unit. His commander embraced him, back from the dead. ”Somehow, I knew we hadn't seen the last of you,” said the officer emotionally. With no planes and no crews, there was nothing more for them to do on Luzon. Iki was evacuated to Kyushu to organise a new squadron.

THE J j.a.pANESE PILOT was by no means the only airman to land ”in the drink” that day. There was also, for instance, twenty-two-year-old Joseph Tropp from Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, gunner of a flak-stricken h.e.l.ldiver. As his air group faded away to the east after making its attack on Kurita's s.h.i.+ps, Tropp was left bobbing alone in a dinghy-his pilot had been fatally injured when their plane ditched. He found himself in the path of the entire j.a.panese fleet. Their battles.h.i.+ps did not deign to notice him, but when a destroyer pa.s.sed within fifty feet ”a j.a.p sailor yelled was by no means the only airman to land ”in the drink” that day. There was also, for instance, twenty-two-year-old Joseph Tropp from Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, gunner of a flak-stricken h.e.l.ldiver. As his air group faded away to the east after making its attack on Kurita's s.h.i.+ps, Tropp was left bobbing alone in a dinghy-his pilot had been fatally injured when their plane ditched. He found himself in the path of the entire j.a.panese fleet. Their battles.h.i.+ps did not deign to notice him, but when a destroyer pa.s.sed within fifty feet ”a j.a.p sailor yelled272 and I could see others pouring out of their hatches talking, gesticulating. They lined up at the rail shaking their fists, yelling and laughing. One of them disappeared and came back with a rifle, and I was sure he intended to strafe me, but I could see and hear them yelling about something else that distracted their attention.” More American aircraft were approaching, and Tropp was left to his own devices. After two days in the dinghy he landed on Samar, met guerrillas who delivered him to the Americans, and eventually returned to his carrier. and I could see others pouring out of their hatches talking, gesticulating. They lined up at the rail shaking their fists, yelling and laughing. One of them disappeared and came back with a rifle, and I was sure he intended to strafe me, but I could see and hear them yelling about something else that distracted their attention.” More American aircraft were approaching, and Tropp was left to his own devices. After two days in the dinghy he landed on Samar, met guerrillas who delivered him to the Americans, and eventually returned to his carrier.

Far graver misfortunes now overtook Kurita. Cmdr. James McCauley, directing Third Fleet's torpedo-bombers, divided his planes between the three biggest j.a.panese s.h.i.+ps. Musas.h.i.+ Musas.h.i.+ was struck nineteen times by torpedoes, seventeen times by bombs. This attack, declared pilot David Smith, was ”absolutely beautiful was struck nineteen times by torpedoes, seventeen times by bombs. This attack, declared pilot David Smith, was ”absolutely beautiful273. I've never seen anything like it...no bombs missed. The torpedo planes came in on a hammerhead attack, four on each bow, and you could see the wakes headed right for the bow. They all ran hot straight and normal, and exploded. Well, she stopped and burned like h.e.l.l, and when I left her about thirty minutes later the bow was flush with the water.”

Yamato and and Nagato Nagato were also slightly hit. The heavy cruiser were also slightly hit. The heavy cruiser Myoko Myoko was obliged to turn for home with shaft damage. At 1930, the 67,123-ton behemoth was obliged to turn for home with shaft damage. At 1930, the 67,123-ton behemoth Musas.h.i.+ Musas.h.i.+, each of its main turrets heavier than a destroyer, the huge gold imperial chrysanthemum still adorning its prow, rolled over and sank. Some 984 of its 2,287 crew perished-it was four hours before j.a.panese escorts addressed themselves to seeking survivors. Ugaki afterwards composed a haiku about the death of Musas.h.i.+ Musas.h.i.+'s captain, Rear-Admiral Tos.h.i.+hira Inoguchi. This ended winsomely: ”Who can read the heart274 of an admiral brooding?” The weather-”Fair”-was the only aspect of 24 October about which Ugaki could bring himself to comment favourably in his diary. On this, ”the first day of the decisive battle,” he lamented how few American planes had been shot down. Anti-aircraft fire from Kurita's s.h.i.+ps had accounted for only eighteen attackers. Inoguchi's last testament, scribbled as his s.h.i.+p foundered, recorded regret that he and his comrades had placed exaggerated faith in big s.h.i.+ps and big guns. of an admiral brooding?” The weather-”Fair”-was the only aspect of 24 October about which Ugaki could bring himself to comment favourably in his diary. On this, ”the first day of the decisive battle,” he lamented how few American planes had been shot down. Anti-aircraft fire from Kurita's s.h.i.+ps had accounted for only eighteen attackers. Inoguchi's last testament, scribbled as his s.h.i.+p foundered, recorded regret that he and his comrades had placed exaggerated faith in big s.h.i.+ps and big guns.

Yet given the fact that Halsey's aircraft had been able to strike all day without interference from j.a.panese fighters, the results were far less comprehensive than the Americans might have expected, and than their pilots claimed. Halsey wrote after the war: ”The most conspicuous lesson learnt from this action is the practical difficulty of crippling by air strikes alone a task force of heavy s.h.i.+ps at sea and free to maneuver.” This is wholly unconvincing. Far more relevant was the fact that the American fliers started their battle tired, desperately tired, after days of intensive action. The carrier Bunker Hill Bunker Hill had already been detached to Ulithi because of the exhaustion of its air group, and other s.h.i.+ps' pilots were in little better case. Fatigue diminished accuracy. A h.e.l.lcat commander, Lamade of had already been detached to Ulithi because of the exhaustion of its air group, and other s.h.i.+ps' pilots were in little better case. Fatigue diminished accuracy. A h.e.l.lcat commander, Lamade of Hanc.o.c.k Hanc.o.c.k, was especially critical of the h.e.l.ldivers' performance during this period: ”The dive-bombers are not hitting275 what they're aiming at-I don't think they're aiming at all.” An a.n.a.lysis of one air group's operations on 24 October concluded: ”Too many targets were attacked what they're aiming at-I don't think they're aiming at all.” An a.n.a.lysis of one air group's operations on 24 October concluded: ”Too many targets were attacked276 scattering light damage to many s.h.i.+ps...radio discipline must be improved.” That day, only around 45 of 259 U.S. strike aircraft achieved hits. This fell far short of the best performances by carrier pilots in the autumn of 1944. Despite the sinking of scattering light damage to many s.h.i.+ps...radio discipline must be improved.” That day, only around 45 of 259 U.S. strike aircraft achieved hits. This fell far short of the best performances by carrier pilots in the autumn of 1944. Despite the sinking of Musas.h.i.+ Musas.h.i.+, American sorties on 24 October were relatively unsuccessful.

Yet they were enough to shake Kurita. At 1400 that afternoon, the j.a.panese force reversed course away from the San Bernardino Strait. The admiral signalled to naval headquarters: ”It is...considered advisable to retire temporarily beyond range of enemy air attack, and resume our operation when the actions of [other] friendly units permit.” Whatever Kurita did thereafter, his force could no longer achieve its scheduled dawn rendezvous off Leyte Gulf with the southern j.a.panese squadron. Ash.o.r.e, the j.a.panese mood was already grim. One of the day's luckier men was Maj. Shoji Takahas.h.i.+ in Manila. When the Shogo squadrons sailed, the navy requested the presence of an army liaison officer, to sail aboard Musas.h.i.+ Musas.h.i.+. Takahas.h.i.+ volunteered. He thought the trip sounded rather fun. That night, when South Asia Area Army learned that the great battles.h.i.+p and many of her crew lay on the sea bottom, the intelligence officer's colonel wagged a grim finger at him: ”Lucky I wouldn't let you go277, isn't it?” Admiral Halsey, hearing his pilots' reports, was convinced that Third Fleet had achieved a decisive victory, that Kurita's force was broken and in retreat.

NIs.h.i.+MURA'S ”C” Force, comprising two old battles.h.i.+ps, a heavy cruiser and four destroyers, was absurdly weak for independent action. A further element of the Combined Fleet, s.h.i.+ma's small squadron, was pursuing the same route as Nis.h.i.+mura, but lagging hours behind him. It was as if the j.a.panese high command was offering its enemies a feast in successive courses, each scaled to fit American appet.i.tes, with convenient pauses for the cleansing of palates. As ”C” Force began its long approach to Leyte Gulf from the south on the morning of the twenty-fourth, it suffered one ineffectual American air attack before Halsey's carriers moved north to address Kurita. Thereafter, it was plain to Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, commanding Seventh Fleet, screening the Leyte beachhead, that it would be up to his s.h.i.+ps to dispose of Nis.h.i.+mura; and that the j.a.panese would traverse the Surigao Strait during darkness. ”C” Force, comprising two old battles.h.i.+ps, a heavy cruiser and four destroyers, was absurdly weak for independent action. A further element of the Combined Fleet, s.h.i.+ma's small squadron, was pursuing the same route as Nis.h.i.+mura, but lagging hours behind him. It was as if the j.a.panese high command was offering its enemies a feast in successive courses, each scaled to fit American appet.i.tes, with convenient pauses for the cleansing of palates. As ”C” Force began its long approach to Leyte Gulf from the south on the morning of the twenty-fourth, it suffered one ineffectual American air attack before Halsey's carriers moved north to address Kurita. Thereafter, it was plain to Admiral Thomas Kinkaid, commanding Seventh Fleet, screening the Leyte beachhead, that it would be up to his s.h.i.+ps to dispose of Nis.h.i.+mura; and that the j.a.panese would traverse the Surigao Strait during darkness.

Kinkaid was a fifty-six-year-old New Hamps.h.i.+reman who had spent much of his early service in battles.h.i.+ps. He nursed some resentment that he had been removed by Halsey from a carrier group command earlier in the war, and was generally deemed a competent rather than an inspired officer. At 1215, he ordered every s.h.i.+p to prepare for a night engagement, signalling: ”General situation: enemy aircraft278 and naval forces seem to be a.s.sembling...for an offensive strike against Leyte area...attack tonight by enemy striking group may occur after 1900. General plan: this force will destroy [by] gunfire at moderate ranges and by torpedo attack enemy surface forces attempting to enter Leyte Gulf through...Surigao Strait.” and naval forces seem to be a.s.sembling...for an offensive strike against Leyte area...attack tonight by enemy striking group may occur after 1900. General plan: this force will destroy [by] gunfire at moderate ranges and by torpedo attack enemy surface forces attempting to enter Leyte Gulf through...Surigao Strait.”

MacArthur demanded to be allowed to stay aboard the cruiser Nashville Nashville for the battle, and only under protest transferred his headquarters ash.o.r.e. The twenty-eight supply and command s.h.i.+ps in San Pedro Bay were left to be screened by destroyers. Admiral Jesse Oldendorf, commanding the force of old battles.h.i.+ps and cruisers providing bombardment support for Leyte, deployed these in line across the mouth of the strait to await the enemy. The five destroyers of Captain Jesse Coward's Squadron 54 took station ahead as a skirmis.h.i.+ng force, supported by six further destroyers of Desron 24 and nine of Desron 56, in readiness to launch successive torpedo attacks. A swarm of little PT-boats patrolled still further forward, riding easily on the gla.s.sy sea. The PTs' first, unfortunate engagement involved an American plane: they shot down a night-flying ”Black Cat” Catalina which was searching for Nis.h.i.+mura. for the battle, and only under protest transferred his headquarters ash.o.r.e. The twenty-eight supply and command s.h.i.+ps in San Pedro Bay were left to be screened by destroyers. Admiral Jesse Oldendorf, commanding the force of old battles.h.i.+ps and cruisers providing bombardment support for Leyte, deployed these in line across the mouth of the strait to await the enemy. The five destroyers of Captain Jesse Coward's Squadron 54 took station ahead as a skirmis.h.i.+ng force, supported by six further destroyers of Desron 24 and nine of Desron 56, in readiness to launch successive torpedo attacks. A swarm of little PT-boats patrolled still further forward, riding easily on the gla.s.sy sea. The PTs' first, unfortunate engagement involved an American plane: they shot down a night-flying ”Black Cat” Catalina which was searching for Nis.h.i.+mura.

The night was full of apprehension. Kinkaid, on his command s.h.i.+p Wasatch Wasatch in San Pedro anchorage, was dismayed to hear of a j.a.panese bombing raid on Tacloban, which detonated a fuel dump. The American battles.h.i.+ps at the entrance to Surigao heavily outgunned Nis.h.i.+mura's squadron. Because they did not expect to engage enemy wars.h.i.+ps, however, they carried little armour-piercing ammunition. A night action was always chancy, especially against the j.a.panese. It was most unlikely that Nis.h.i.+mura's feeble force could break through Seventh Fleet, but a few lucky j.a.panese sh.e.l.ls might wreak havoc. in San Pedro anchorage, was dismayed to hear of a j.a.panese bombing raid on Tacloban, which detonated a fuel dump. The American battles.h.i.+ps at the entrance to Surigao heavily outgunned Nis.h.i.+mura's squadron. Because they did not expect to engage enemy wars.h.i.+ps, however, they carried little armour-piercing ammunition. A night action was always chancy, especially against the j.a.panese. It was most unlikely that Nis.h.i.+mura's feeble force could break through Seventh Fleet, but a few lucky j.a.panese sh.e.l.ls might wreak havoc.

The battle began at 2236, as the little jungle-green-painted wooden PT-boats raced at twenty-four knots to launch the first attacks. One after another, amid foaming wakes and flickering j.a.panese searchlights, they strove to close the columns of advancing s.h.i.+ps. Nis.h.i.+mura's secondary armament fired repeated salvoes at the fragile craft. In the course of skirmishes that lasted almost four hours, thirty boats fired torpedoes-and all missed. The PTs were the navy's special forces, chiefly employed for reconnaissance and rescue duty. Their torpedo training had been neglected. One craft was lost, three men killed. Nis.h.i.+mura's squadron surged on northwards.

The American destroyers fared better. These were almost new Fletcher Fletcher-cla.s.s s.h.i.+ps, displacing 2,000 tons apiece. Their five-inch guns were irrelevant to a contest with capital s.h.i.+ps. Coward ordered his turret crews to hold their fire, for muzzle flashes would only pinpoint them for the j.a.panese. It was the destroyers' torpedoes that mattered, launched from much stabler aiming platforms than the PT-boats, and capable of sinking anything. Even in darkness after the moon set just past midnight, visibility was better than two miles. The temperature on deck was eighty degrees, the heat below stifling. In combat information centres, anti-submarine sonars pinged monotonously. Five or six men crowded into the dark, sweaty s.p.a.ce behind or below each s.h.i.+p's bridge, dominated by an illuminated, gla.s.s-covered plot on which a pinpoint of light showed the s.h.i.+p's position. On American radar screens, the sea slugs that represented Nis.h.i.+mura's s.h.i.+ps were closing fast.

As those with a view watched the PT-boat actions, the captain of one destroyer, Monssen Monssen, broadcast to his s.h.i.+p's company at general quarters: ”To all hands. This is the captain. We are going into battle. I know each of you will do your duty. I promise that I will do my duty to you and for our country. Good luck to you, and may G.o.d be with us.” The harshest predicament was not now that of men manning the upper decks, but that of hundreds more sweating in their flashproof denims and anti-flash hoods at switchboards and ammunition hoists, machinery controls and casualty stations below, where they could see nothing of events until a ghastly moment when explosives might rip through thin plate, blood and water mingle with twisted steel. Such images were vivid in the imaginations of most sailors, as they drank coffee and ate sandwiches through the interminable wait to engage.

Nis.h.i.+mura's column was led by four destroyers. His own flags.h.i.+p, the old battles.h.i.+p Yamas.h.i.+ro Yamas.h.i.+ro, followed, with Fuso Fuso and and Mogami Mogami at thousand-yard intervals behind. At 0240 at thousand-yard intervals behind. At 0240 McGowan McGowan reported ”Skunk 184 degrees distant fifteen miles.” Fifteen minutes later, j.a.panese lookouts glimpsed the distant enemy, but their huge searchlights failed to illuminate Coward's s.h.i.+ps. Now the American destroyers began to close, thras.h.i.+ng down the twelve-mile-wide strait at thirty knots. Even with the j.a.panese slowed by an adverse current, Nis.h.i.+mura's s.h.i.+ps and the Americans were approaching each other at better than fifty miles an hour. At 0258, with the j.a.panese in plain sight, Coward's squadron made protective smoke. He ordered the three s.h.i.+ps in his own division: ”Fire when ready.” A few seconds after 0300, the Americans began loosing torpedoes at a range just short of 9,000 yards. To have gone closer, the destroyer leader believed, would have invited devastation from Nis.h.i.+mura's gunfire. A j.a.panese searchlight suddenly fixed reported ”Skunk 184 degrees distant fifteen miles.” Fifteen minutes later, j.a.panese lookouts glimpsed the distant enemy, but their huge searchlights failed to illuminate Coward's s.h.i.+ps. Now the American destroyers began to close, thras.h.i.+ng down the twelve-mile-wide strait at thirty knots. Even with the j.a.panese slowed by an adverse current, Nis.h.i.+mura's s.h.i.+ps and the Americans were approaching each other at better than fifty miles an hour. At 0258, with the j.a.panese in plain sight, Coward's squadron made protective smoke. He ordered the three s.h.i.+ps in his own division: ”Fire when ready.” A few seconds after 0300, the Americans began loosing torpedoes at a range just short of 9,000 yards. To have gone closer, the destroyer leader believed, would have invited devastation from Nis.h.i.+mura's gunfire. A j.a.panese searchlight suddenly fixed Remey Remey in its dazzling glare, making its crew feel ”like animals in a cage.” The battles.h.i.+ps began lighting the sky with star sh.e.l.ls, while striving in vain to hit American destroyers making a land speed approaching forty mph. In seventy-five seconds, twenty-seven torpedoes left their tubes. Coward swung hard to port, then zigzagged through their eight minutes of running time. At 0308, they heard a single explosion aboard a j.a.panese s.h.i.+p, probably in its dazzling glare, making its crew feel ”like animals in a cage.” The battles.h.i.+ps began lighting the sky with star sh.e.l.ls, while striving in vain to hit American destroyers making a land speed approaching forty mph. In seventy-five seconds, twenty-seven torpedoes left their tubes. Coward swung hard to port, then zigzagged through their eight minutes of running time. At 0308, they heard a single explosion aboard a j.a.panese s.h.i.+p, probably Yamas.h.i.+ro Yamas.h.i.+ro.