The United States Navy at Samar

6 Escort Carriers
3 Destroyers
4 Destroyer Escorts

 

U.S. Navy photograph

"Victor at Samar"
October 25, 1944

Rear Admiral
Clifton Albert Frederick "Ziggy" Sprague
United States Navy

Commander Task Unit 77.4.3 (Taffy III)
Commander Carrier Division 25

"At 0706, the enemy was closing with disconcerting rapidity, and volume and accuracy of fire was increasing. At this point, it did not appear that any of our ships could survive another five minutes of the heavy calibre fire being received, and some counteraction was urgently and immediately required. The Task Unit was surrounded by the ultimate of desperate circumstances. All escorts were ordered to attack the enemy with torpedoes. At this time, direct view of the enemy was obscured by smoke and results of our escorts attack could not be ascertained, but it is believed that, regardless of hits, they succeeded in turning the battleships away at least momentarily, and created a diversion of immense value."

COMCARDIV 25 Action Report, RADM C.A.F. Sprague, USN

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Honor the Missing in Action and Killed in Action of Taffy III