It was, by all standards, a decisive victory for the American naval forces and could easily have turned the tide in favor of the Japanese Imperial Navy had the result been otherwise.

The largest attack group, organized hastily by the Japanese, was the Central Force headed by Admiral Kurita.

This powerful force encountered a token fleet of American escort ships in the Philippine Sea off the island of Samar.

Despite overwhelming superiority, the Japanese Central Force surprisingly retreated through the San Bernardino Strait.

The Battle for Leyte Gulf was the most savage naval engagement of World War II.