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Chapter 8

0730 to 0800
SMALL BOYS SCREENING ACTION

0730     Upon exiting the rain squall, RADM Sprague radios an urgent message to VADM Kinkaid, Commander Seventh Fleet, requesting permission to move his fleeing escort carrier force toward the safety of Seventh Fleet's battleships and cruisers near the Leyte Gulf invasion beach. Vice Admiral Kinkaid’s answer is "NO."

A/C     By saying no, VADM Kinkaid let RADM Sprague know he considered Taffy III expendable. It had been said that Seventh Fleet's old battleship and cruiser forces near the southern approaches to Leyte Gulf were now low on ammunition after having just defeated the Japanese Southern Force in the Battle of Surigao Strait earlier that morning. It is arguable just how low in ammunition they were.... Vice Admiral Kinkaid, a resolute commander who was always in control, would choose where and when his fleet would fight.

A/C     Seventh Fleet was in poor position to support Taffy III at this time; the reasons being many. Although their performance against the Japanese Southern Force was an unqualified success, they were hardly a match for a fleet the size and strength of Centre Force. Vice Admiral Kinkaid knew the possibility now existed that Centre Force may make it all the way to Leyte Gulf intact. What was worse, coming to grips with the realization that Third Fleet had abandoned him, he now had to prepare for the unplanned contingency of fighting a force he never should have fought!?

A/C    The only Seventh Fleet unit currently in a position to help RADM Sprague was Taffy II, and they themselves were dangerously close to Centre Force.

A/C    When RADM Oldendorf’s old battleships arrived at Leyte Gulf, only one-fifth of their ammunition on board was armor-piercing. Previously at Yap, they had been loaded with high-capacity shells to support their scheduled shore bombardment duties. Earlier during the Leyte operation, they had expended over one-half of their high-capacity shells fulfilling these duties, including some of their armor-piercing shells on some of the harder targets found ashore.

A/C    The American heavy cruisers at Surigao Strait loaded two-thirds of their ammunition in high-capacity shells, the remaining third was armor-piercing. During their engagement with VADM Nishimura’s Southern Force Van, they had almost wastefully used about eighty percent of their load. At the end of the fighting the light cruisers did however, still carry about 50-80 armor-piercing shells apiece.

A/C    The destroyers of Seventh Fleet were in a much more desperate state of affairs. During the Battle of Surigao Strait they had expended all, if not most of their torpedoes. As with the armor-piercing shells, no torpedo replacements were readily available. If matters were not grave enough, at this point, all of the ships were low in fuel. October 25 was their scheduled replenishment day.

0730    After careful evaluation of the tactical situation, VADM Kurita orders the fast heavy cruisers of Centre Force to pursue the Americans at top speed on course 110° T.

A/C    Vice Admiral Kurita feared the American carriers were getting away and would soon be out of reach. The rain squall and highly effective smoke screen was hindering the Japanese effort.

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0730    From the port quarter, the escort carriers are sighted once again as they exit the rain squall. They immediately come under heavy concentrated fire from heavy cruisers TONE, CHIKUMA, HAGURO, and CHOKAI who attempt to outflank the escort carriers to port. Multi-colored shells once again fall among the ships of Taffy III.

A/C    With KUMANO and SUZUYA of Cruiser Division Seven out of action, the two remaining heavy cruisers, TONE and CHIKUMA, were joined by Cruiser Division Five’s two ships, HAGURO and CHOKAI. The threat to Taffy III is now greater than ever as the two heavy cruiser divisions coordinate their attack and rapidly close the escort carriers from their port quarter.

EVENT    Under increasingly heavy near-misses, CVE GAMBIER BAY resorts to chasing salvos to avoid being hit.

A/C    "Chasing salvos" consisted of turning the ship toward the last shell splash, in hope that Japanese fire control would try to correct their aim and shoot in a different direction to correct their aim. This technique kept GAMBIER BAY from under the heavy guns for over half an hour.

EVENT    Japanese Destroyer Squadron Two, led by the CL NOSHIRO approaches the escort carriers from their starboard quarter in an attempt to block their escape toward Leyte Gulf.

A/C    Nearly forty-five minutes have passed since the Japanese first charged the escort carriers. Rear Admiral Sprague's constant course changes and dense smoke screen were buying time and aided in keeping the distance between his fleeing carriers and the pursuing warships.

A/C    In addition to RADM Sprague's grace-saving efforts, the Japanese helped by not cutting corners on their approach. Instead, they concentrated on cutting off the task unit’s escape to open ocean by boxing it in on three sides. However, this is not to say the Japanese were not closing the escort carriers; they were!

EVENT    The two Japanese destroyer squadrons, originally ordered to bring up the rear, are now utilized to work the starboard flank of the escort carriers in an attempting to box them in and drive them back towards the battleships’ big guns.

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0732    The escort carriers are ordered to course 170° T to help keep their distance from the heavy cruisers approaching on their port quarter. Rear Admiral Sprague orders all airborne aircraft to concentrate on the heavy cruiser column. Heavy cruisers CHIKUMA, TONE, HAGURO, and CHOKAI press on in an attempt to cut off the escort carriers’ retreat.

0732    TBS - Taffy 2 v GALLEY, "I HAVE FOUR FISH LOADED WITH TORPEDOES AND FOUR FIGHTERS READY TO GO WHEN READY." .... v Taffy 2, "ROGER OUT."

A/C    An escort carrier of Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II) reports is has four TBM torpedo bombers and four FM-2 fighters ready for launch.

0733    TBS - Taffy 3 v CATNIP, "WILL LAUNCH ONE FISH WITH A FISH IN IT IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE."

A/C    "FISH" was the radio codename for an Avenger torpedo bomber....the second "FISH" refers to a torpedo.

0733    From the escort carrier ST LO, the Japanese force bears 275° T, 19,500 yards, and closing.

0733    Crossing astern of BB NAGATO, IJN BB HARUNA fires on a "cruiser" as it reveals itself from behind the smoke.

0734    TBS - Taffy 3 v BRASSLOCK, "HAS CONTACT REPORT BEEN MADE, OVER."

A/C    Inquiry from JOHNSTON.

0735    TBS - v Taffy 3, "OPEN UP WITH PEASHOOTER ON STERN."

A/C    When the nearest Japanese warship had closed to 23,000 yards, an order to open up with the 5"/38 GP guns on the stern of the escort carriers was given, "when within range."

0735    TBS - Taffy 33 v Taffy 3, "DELIVER FISH ATTACK, OVER." .... v Taffy 33, "WILCO OUT."

0735    Maneuvering at full speed, about 22 knots, DENNIS is positioned at 270° T on the task unit formation, between the CVEs and the advancing enemy warships.

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0736    TBS - Mercury 3 v Taffy 3, "ALL GREAT DANES STANDBY TO OPEN UP WITH YOUR GUNS WHEN RANGE IS CLEAR."

A/C    At this point the nearest Japanese warships were closing on the escort carriers (Great Danes), but were still out of range of the CVEs single 5-inch guns. The gun crews were ordered to prepare or "STANDBY" to open fire when the enemy warships were with in the effective range ("WHEN RANGE IS CLEAR") of their 5-inch guns.

0736    TBS - OVERTURE v Taffy 3, "ARE YOUR TORPEDOES READY, OVER?"

0736    TBS - MONGREL v Taffy 3, "ARE YOUR TORPEDOES READY, OVER?" .... v MONGREL, "AFFIRMATIVE."

Three hits were claimed, one forward of the forward turret starting a fire, and two between the bridge and the first stack. Escort Carrier ST LO’s Action Report stated, "...a CA (heavy cruiser) accompanied by a large destroyer had moved up on the port beam of our formation at an initial range of 16,000 yards which later closed to 12,000 yards and fired very deliberately full broadsides at the ships of the formation."

0738    Sighted from DE DENNIS, enemy shell fire is seen to fall 1,000 yards astern of the carrier group, in sustained fire.

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0740    As visibility permits, DE DENNIS opens fire with her two 5-inch guns on enemy cruisers and destroyers. The opening range is 15,200 yards.

A/C    Aboard DENNIS, Lieutenant Commander Hansen heard RADM Sprague’s order to the destroyers to make the torpedo attack. As senior destroyer escort CO, he assumed he would lead the other DEs in their attack and tried to locate the other DEs visually to no avail. The entire area was heavily covered by smoke and rain squalls making visibility very difficult.

0742    Rear Admiral Sprague urgently orders the "small boys" (destroyers) to form up and make another torpedo attack on the menacing Japanese heavy cruisers. Destroyer HOEL, although badly damaged by her encounter with BB KONGO, leads, closely followed by newly arrived DD HEERMANN, the only undamaged destroyer remaining.

EVENT    Destroyer HEERMANN, on the south side of the task unit, furthest from the action, turns north to engage the cruiser line and races through the CVE formation among the multi-colored shell splashes which continued to fall among the escort carriers. Destroyer HEERMANN, able to make better than 30 knots, speeds through the smoke screen and nearly collides with DE ROBERTS, which is laying smoke between the escort carriers and the Japanese cruiser column.

A/C    The three destroyers of Taffy III were faced with an overwhelming responsibility this day. They were practically all that stood between the escort carriers and VADM Kurita’s Centre Force. They fought so magnificently, It is no wonder the Japanese had called them "cruisers" in their action reports.

A/C    Quoting CVE KITKUN BAY's Ship's History, "it was an inspiring sight to see those small, inadequately armed vessels turn without hesitation to attack so overwhelming a force, which by now had been determined as consisting of six (actually 4) battleships, seven (actually 6) heavy cruisers, three (actually 2) light cruisers, and ten (actually 11) destroyers...".

A/C    After the DDs (code name Wolves) received their orders to attack the cruisers, ROBERTS had asked the screen commander in HEERMANN if she were also to join in. DE ROBERTS was told, "...the Little Wolves will join up for second attack...." "Little Wolves" was the TBS codeword for the destroyer escorts of Taffy III.

A/C    At this point in the battle, DE ROBERTS was on the engaged port side of the escort carrier formation with none of her sister DEs to be found. Lieutenant Commander Copeland had in fact waited to see if any of the other DEs were responding to the order to form a second attack. The senior destroyer escort present was DENNIS. When it appeared no other DEs would reply, he followed the last destroyer at 3,000 yards astern when it sped past him. Destroyer escorts, lightly armed, were not trained in group torpedo attack tactics, their soul purpose being anti-submarine warfare.

0743    Destroyer Escort RAYMOND hears RADM Sprague's order to conduct the second torpedo attack. Her Commanding Officer, LCDR A. F. Beyer believes the order is meant for his ship also. Destroyer escort RAYMOND is turned northward to engage the Japanese ships. She chooses CA HAGURO as her target.

EVENT    Destroyer escort ROBERTS, in a good position to respond to RADM Sprague’s second attack order, follows the larger FLETCHER Class destroyers by about 3,000 yards astern without orders to join. This ploy is solely the initiative of DE ROBERTS’ aggressive commanding officer, LCDR Robert W. Copeland, a Naval Reservist.

EVENT    On the starboard side of the CVE formation, DE BUTLER tries to find senior DE DENNIS to coordinate the destroyer escort’s ordered torpedo attack. Her search, for the time being, is in vain.

A/C    The heavy cruisers of Cruiser Division Five, HAGURO and CHOKAI, are the closest threat to the American destroyers.

0749    Destroyer HEERMANN, still speeding northward, approaches DD HOEL which, due to her significant damage, is running at reduced speed. Unaware of DD HOEL’s limited propulsion, DD HEERMANN closes the distance on DD HOEL swiftly and has to reverse her engines once again to all-back emergency, avoiding another collision.

A/C    Commander Hathaway’s adrenaline must have been flowing briskly during these events. Knowing he would soon be engaging a major portion of the attacking fleet, his ship, the escort carriers, and the other screening ships were in for the fight of their lives. The shell splashes, smoke screen, and rain squalls were a constant distraction and did not make his work any easier for him.

0749    At a range of 17,000 yards, BB HARUNA fires on an American "destroyer" to starboard.

A/C    This "destroyer" was one of the FLETCHERs or possibly DE ROBERTS.

0750    TBS - v Taffy 3, "ALL SMALL BOYS GO IN AND LAUNCH TORPEDO ATTACK."

0750    Not satisfied with the progress of second torpedo attack by the escorts, RADM Sprague orders "EXECUTE".

0750     Destroyer JOHNSTON exits the rain squall and sights destroyers HOEL, HEERMANN, and DE ROBERTS conducting the second torpedo attack on an opposite course. Having expended her torpedoes and also having taken a large amount of punishment, DD JOHNSTON joins Taffy III's other two destroyers and DE ROBERTS’ column to provide gunfire support. Due to her extensive damage, DD JOHNSTON’s three aft 5-inch guns must be operated in manual mode.

0750    Destroyer Escort DENNIS receives word for the DEs to conduct a separate torpedo attack. She turns northwest and approaches the heavy cruiser column.

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0750    Escort Carrier KALININ BAY is hit by the first of several 8-inch shells. More 8-inch shells follow, doing a considerable amount of damage.

A/C    The Japanese mistakenly used armor piercing shells against the thin-hulled American ships. Most shells passed through the thin-hulled ships without exploding. Had they used high-capacity explosive shells, they may have sunk more ships, and most certainly would have caused more damage and personnel casualties. During the period 0738 to 0750 many salvo splashes were observed on all sides of the ST LO, several not more than 50 yards away. It was reported that there was another CA (heavy cruiser) and several DD (destroyers) moving up to a position off the starboard quarter. However, no salvoes were observed from this side at this time.

0750    Orders are received aboard DE DENNIS to make a torpedo attack with the other destroyer escorts.

A/C    The nearest Japanese warship to DENNIS was a heavy cruiser, about 18,000 yards distant. DENNIS began her approach on course 310° T, speed 22 knots, firing her two 5-inch guns as targets of opportunity presented themselves through the heavy smoke and rain.

0750    Destroyer Squadron TEN, CL YAHAGI and her four destroyers, circle under heavy air attack.

0751    TBS - Taffy 2 v FAMOUS, "AFFIRMATIVE. WE WILL LAUNCH THEM AS SOON AS WE GET INTO THE WIND. WE HAVE TWO AVENGER WITH FISH. WE WILL LAUNCH THEM IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES." .... v Taffy 2, "ROGER OUT."

0751    As the distance between the American screening ships and Battleship Division One decreased, BB YAMATO opens fire with her secondary battery at a "cruiser" at 11,500 yards.

A/C    Visibility was still very poor considering the relatively short ranges. The small American warships were constantly driving in and out of the smoke and pall. The warship being shot at by YAMATO was either HOEL or HEERMANN.

EVENT    Escort Carrier GAMBIER BAY launches her last plane, without a pilot.

EVENT    After expending her last torpedoes, DD HOEL is slowed by battle damage. Under limited propulsion she attempts to retire toward the escort carriers in the middle of the Japanese "box".

EVENT    Restrained by battleships NAGATO, KONGO, and HARUNA from the rear, heavy cruisers on her left flank and destroyers on the right, DD HOEL has nowhere to go and is hit repeatedly with 16-inch, 14-inch, 8-inch, and 5-inch shells.

A/C    HOEL was in a tight entanglement. Her speed was limited to a mere 17 knots by this time, no match for the Japanese warships. Now flanked on three sides, she met her demise.

EVENT    Struck by over 40 shells, DD HOEL’s engine room is soon flooded and she lists 20 degrees to port. Defiantly her two operational guns remain in action against her aggressors, firing over 250 rounds each.

0752    Destroyer Escort DENNIS operates independently and approaches the heavy cruiser column dodging salvos on her approach.

EVENT    Destroyer HEERMANN, the fittest of the destroyers, engages CA HAGURO and fires 125 5-inch shells on her approach.

A/C    There were so many close-aboard near misses on HEERMANN, CDR Hathaway was having trouble seeing over the water geysers which were covering the entire bridge. HEERMANN was likely the only destroyer to have ever engaged four battleships singlehandedly and survived. Her success could be attributed to the confusion of the battle, the smoke screen, rain squalls, her speed, and low silhouette. Most certainly the battleships did not feel threatened by her, and most likely ignored her. They were set on searching for bigger game.

EVENT    Presenting a low silhouette, DE ROBERTS is able to approach to within 4,000 yards of the Japanese warships unseen. She recovers from the mast and torpedo tube mount damage, fires her three torpedoes, reverses course, and heads back toward the escort carriers at an emergency flank bell.

A/C    Realizing his time under the Japanese large caliber guns was suicidal, LCDR Copeland ordered his engine room to ignore propulsion limits on the journey back to the escort carriers. Safety valves were secured, allowing steam pressure to rise to 670 pounds in a plant designed for a maximum of 440. Shaft rpm rose to 477 on shafts designed for 420. This added push enabled ROBERTS to obtain a speed of 28 and one-half knots.

A/C    The three American screening ships fired a total of fifteen torpedoes at the advancing Japanese during this phase of the screening action. Two of the ships, HOEL and ROBERTS, greatly contributed to the defense of the escort carriers, each hitting an enemy heavy cruiser with their torpedo attack.

EVENT    Heavy cruiser CHOKAI is hit aft by at least one of DE ROBERTS' torpedoes and she falls out of formation.

0754    Attaining a suitable firing position on the Japanese heavy cruiser column, DD HEERMANN fires seven torpedoes at CA HAGURO. Nine thousand yards distant, and moving at 25 knots, the Japanese ship evades all seven torpedoes.

0754    TBS - v Taffy 3, "ALL CARRIERS MAKE SMOKE."

0754    TBS - v FIGLEAF, "TORPEDOES COMING TOWARD CARRIER GROUP ON OUR PORT SIDE." .... v FIGLEAF.

0756    An aircraft from ST LO’s Composite Squadron VC-65 verified the composition of Centre Force as consisting of, "...four BB (battleships), eight CA (heavy cruisers) and CL (light cruisers) and many DD (destroyers)."

0758    Aboard CVE KITKUN BAY, three destroyers, thought hostile, are reported off the port bow, bearing 147° T, distance 20,000 yards. Their appearance causes great concern until they are identified as friendly.

A/C    The destroyers sighted by CVE KITKUN BAY were Taffy II's HAGGARD, HAILEY and FRANKS. They were operating in the rear of their six escort carriers, guarding Taffy II's back door.

0758    Destroyer JOHNSTON continues to effectively engage the heavy cruisers. Heavy cruiser TONE fires on DD JOHNSTON and logs the action in her deck log as "fired on heavy cruiser."

0759    At 22 knots, her maximum speed, DE DENNIS approaches to within four miles of the heavy cruiser column. 8,000 yards distant, heavy cruisers HAGURO, TONE, CHOKAI, and CHIKUMA approach. Destroyer escort DENNIS chooses the second heavy cruiser in line, CA TONE, as her target and fires her three torpedoes. They all run hot, straight and normal but all miss. Destroyer escort DENNIS then turns southwest and opens fire on another cruiser with her number 2 5-inch gun.

A/C    The "Little Wolves" had now executed the secondary torpedo attack ordered earlier by RADM Sprague. Although DENNIS and RAYMOND failed to score any hits during their torpedo attacks, they helped significantly by forcing HAGURO and TONE to take their focus away from the escort carriers.

A/C    DENNIS’ torpedo firing course was 270° T. The second torpedo was fired 20 seconds after the first, and the third torpedo five seconds after the second.

0759    Heavy cruiser TONE, second in line in the advancing cruiser column is hit forward by taffy aircraft. The resulting fires cause her to momentarily drop out of line. She brings the fires under control and rejoins the cruiser column behind CA CHIKUMA with little loss of ground.

0800    TBS - Taffy 33 v JUGGERNAUGHT, "MY FISH ARE OFF."

EVENT    With all ten of her torpedoes expended, DD HEERMANN reverses course and heads back to the starboard quarter of the escort carrier formation to lay more smoke.

EVENT    Taffy III's Avengers hit CA HAGURO and put her #2 turret out of action. Harried and damaged, heavy cruisers HAGURO and CHOKAI of Cruiser Division Five fall back.

EVENT    Heavy cruisers CHIKUMA and TONE, the most fit of the remaining ships of Cruiser Division Seven, now take the lead and concentrate their fire on the fleeing escort carriers.

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