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Chapter 13

1200 to END
SURVIVORS' PLIGHT

1230     More aircraft from RADM Stump's Taffy II attack the remaining ships of Centre Force.

1236     Harassed by Taffy II's effective air attacks, Centre Force reverses course once again and heads north for San Bernardino Strait and the Sibuyan Sea.

1314     More carrier-based U.S. aircraft are sighted by the lookout of Centre Force.

1322     Heavy cruiser HIJMS SUZUYA, which lingered in a damaged condition since early morning, is abandoned and sinks. A Japanese destroyer stands by and aids the survivors.

1323     Centre Force comes under air attack by the aircraft sighted nine minutes earlier. The aircraft harass the Japanese for about fifteen minutes causing minor damage to a few ships.

1350     Aboard DE DENNIS, rescue operations for the survivors of CVE ST LO are considered completed. In the company of DD HEERMANN and destroyer escorts RAYMOND and BUTLER, a search though the day’s battle area for more survivors from the sunken ship’s of the task unit is commenced.

1409     More U.S. aircraft arrive and continue to harass Centre Force.

1432     The crew of DE DENNIS secures from general quarters. War cruising condition Baker is set.

1500     Vice Admiral McCain’s Task Group 38.1 launches another carrier strike consisting of twenty fighters, twenty bombers, and thirteen Avenger torpedo-bombers from the heavy carriers HORNET and HANCOCK. The IJN Centre Force escapes this attack without further damage.

1530     A raft with three men inside is sighted by DE DENNIS.

1540     Destroyer Escort DENNIS stops to pick up the three survivors.

1546     With the survivors onboard, DE DENNIS continues on base course 110° T, speed 10 knots.

1550     Continuing the search for survivors, DE DENNIS forms screen 53, USF 10A, position 3300, speed 15 knots, using DD HEERMANN as the guide. Destroyer Escorts RAYMOND and BUTLER assume their position within the search formation.

1600     Keeping pressure on the Japanese, another small air strike attacks Centre Force.

A/C     The battleships IOWA and NEW JERSEY were capable of sustained speeds approaching 33 knots, the other four battleships were capable of about 28 knots for short periods. Admiral Halsey decided to further divide his forces and sent the faster ships ahead in an attempt to catch VADM Kurita before his force entered San Bernardino Strait.

1640     The last U.S. air strike of the day arrives off Samar consisting of about 40 aircraft. The Japanese warships are able to evade serious damage but retire with the major of the capital ships trailing oil and battle-scared from the days fight off Samar.

1647     Continuing their search for survivors, DD HEERMANN with Destroyer Escorts DENNIS, RAYMOND, and BUTLER change course to 120° T, speed 15 knots.

1700     Destroyer HEERMANN with Destroyer Escorts DENNIS, RAYMOND, and BUTLER change course to 150° T.

1705     Destroyer Escorts BUTLER and RAYMOND are ordered by OTC in DD HEERMANN to leave the formation and proceed independently to the location of the remaining escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3.

1716     In compliance from orders from Commander LCI(L) Flotillas, rescue vessels get under way, anchored near Dio Island, San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, from alongside USS ARL 41. They proceed to rendezvous near USS BLUE RIDGE, anchored in San Pedro Bay. Upon receipt of written orders, Task Group 78.12 is established consisting of 2 PC's (Patrol Craft) and 5 LCI’s (Landing Craft, Infantry). 1727     Vice Admiral Kurita informs ADM Toyoda he is heading for San Bernardino Strait. The remnant vessels of Centre Force head for the strait at 24 knots with the stragglers following at best speed.	RESCUE SHIPS OF TASK GROUP 78.12 LCDR J. A .Baxter, USN
	Rescue Ships PC-623 (flagship) PC-1119 LCI-34 LCI-71 LCI-337 LCI-340 LCI-341	Survivors 260 183 115 175 85 245 90
	Total men rescued 1,153

1810     Destroyer HEERMANN and DE DENNIS change course to 120° T.

1900     After embarking a Medical Officer, LTJG Lucas, and one Corpsman, PHM1 Wattengel, the rescue vessels depart Leyte Gulf en route to the reported battle area. The area to search for survivors of CVE GAMBIER BAY, DD HOEL, DD JOHNSTON, and DE ROBERTS is given as latitude 11 degrees 15 minutes North, Longitude 125 degrees 30 minutes east.

1921     Flooding in the forward compartment of DE DENNIS is brought under control.

1925     Vice Admiral Kurita receives a dispatch from ADM Toyoda:

"IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO, THE FIRST DIVERSION ATTACK FORCE WILL CONTACT AND DESTROY WHAT IS LEFT OF THE ENEMY TONIGHT. THE OTHER FORCES WILL COORDINATE THEIR ACTION WITH THE ABOVE. IF THERE IS NO CHANCE OF ENGAGING THE ENEMY IN NIGHT BATTLE TONIGHT, THE MAIN BODY OF THE MOBILE FLEET AND THE FIRST DIVERSION ATTACK FORCE WILL PROCEED TO THEIR REFUELING POINTS AS ORDERED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMANDERS."

A/C     Vice Admiral Kurita knew his force would come under heavy U.S. air attacks the following day as his force withdrew westward. He therefore sent his shore-based air commanders the following dispatch:

"IN VIEW OF THE ONE-SIDEDNESS OF THE DECISIVE ACTION CARRIED OUT TODAY, THE 25TH, THERE IS MUCH LIKELIHOOD OF THE ENEMY’S ATTEMPTING TO CARRY OUT REVENGE ATTACKS AGAINST US WITH THE ENTIRE STRENGTH OF THE REMAINDER OF HIS TASK FORCE. IT IS PROBABLE THAT CONTACT WOULD BE MADE IN THE VICINITY TO THE EAST OR NORTH OF LEGASPI ON THE 26TH. WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE SITUATION MAY OFFER EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SHORE-BASED AIR FORCE UNITS TO STRIKE THE FIRST BLOW AGAINST THE ENEMY AND GAIN CONTROL OF THE AIR."

2140     A night scout plane from CVL INDEPENDENCE reports that the ships of Centre Force are entering San Bernardino Strait in single column. The DD NOWAKI, left behind to aid the sinking CA CHIKUMA to take off her crew, is also sighted.

A/C     When Centre Force entered San Bernardino Strait once again unopposed, the door slammed shut on what would have been ADM Halsey’s chance to fight it out with his new, fast-battleships. Another interesting "what if" question arises. Would NEW JERSEY and IOWA have been able to deal with Centre Force? What would have been the greatest battleship-to-battleship match-up in the history of the world would never happen, i.e. Japan’s monstrous YAMATO versus the American IOWA’s.

EVENT     Unable to cover San Bernardino Strait in time to attack Centre Force, Task Force 34.5 dispatches the light cruisers BILOXI, MIAMI, and VINCENNES, and destroyers MILLER, OWEN, and LEWIS HANCOCK to attack the straggler DD NOWAKI.

0054     Light cruisers BILOXI, MIAMI, VINCENNES open fire on DD NOWAKI and set her ablaze. She quickly slows to 13 knots.

0103      Dead in the water, DD NOWAKI is finished off by the destroyers.

A/C     Destroyer NOWAKI had many more men aboard her than usual when she was sunk. She spent the better part of the day picking up survivors from the disabled heavy cruiser CHIKUMA. The ordeal faced by the survivors of CHIKUMA was most unfortunate.

The rescue ships arrived at the designated area shortly before sunrise on Thursday, October 26. LCIs 340 and 341 were unable to make 10 knots and fell behind the Patrol Craft.

End of Time-line

During the day and night of October 26 debris and oil slicks had been noted from time to time. Subsequent to time of picking up the first survivors and until about 0940, October 27 a total of 172 living and 1 dead were picked by LCI(L) 337. Of this total, approximately 25 were stretcher cases from battle wounds, approximately an additional 60 had sustained battle wounds of minor to major character and all were suffering from shock and exposure.

The search was continued under direction of Commander Task Group 78.12 until 0055 on October 27 at which time LCI(L) 337 sighted and brought aboard the first of its survivors.

At about 0940 on October 27, with no additional survivors in sight, an order was received to take station in cruising formation for return to Leyte Gulf. Aside from a single enemy SALLY or BETTY type two engine bomber which was observed to closely approach LCI(G) 34 as she was preparing to assume cruising station at about 0945, the return trip to Leyte was accomplished without incident. A medical officer from a destroyer escort on patrol near Dinagat Island was embarked for a period of about one hour upon arrival at mouth of Leyte Gulf to render emergency treatment to two survivors.

Upon arrival at San Pedro Bay, survivors were transferred to USS LST 464 Hospital Ship and USS PIEDMONT.

The dog tags and very limited personal effects of two additional men were buried at sea by the survivors prior to being picked up.

A/C     At the end of Taffy III's tribulation, heavily damaged DD HEERMANN and DE DENNIS went on to Kossol Passage for much needed repairs. Destroyer escorts BUTLER and RAYMOND, only lightly damaged during the Battle Off Samar, went to Leyte Gulf to refuel and drop off survivors from the ST LO.

A/C     The four surviving escort carriers of Taffy III, FANSHAW BAY, WHITE PLAINS, KALININ BAY, and KITKUN BAY, with their newly provided replacement escorts went on to Manus for much needed rest and repairs.

A/C     The survivors of CVE GAMBIER BAY, DD HOEL, DD JOHNSTON, and DE SAMUEL B. ROBERTS were not rescued until October 27, after spending over two days in the water adrift.

A/C     The author’s great-uncle Virgil Cox of USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE 73) was one of those who were fortunate enough to survive the greatest naval battle in history.

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