US NAVY
INTERNATIONAL—Unites States and Great Britain resume
diplomatic relations with Italy.
PACIFIC—Battle for Leyte Gulf continues as TG 77.2 (Rear
Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf), augmented by TG 77.3 (Rear Admiral Russell S.
Berkey) and TG 70.1 (39 motor torpedo boats) execute the classic maneuver of
"crossing the tee" of the Japanese "Southern Force" (Vice
Admiral Nishimura Shoji and Vice Admiral Shima Kiyohide) in the Battle of
Surigao Strait. TG 70.1 begins the action against the Japanese ships. PT‑137
torpedoes light cruiser Abukuma, but PT‑493 is sunk by enemy
secondary battery gunfire, 10°15'N, 125°23'E. DESRON 54 (Captain Jesse G.
Coward) then attacks; McDermut (DD‑677) sinks destroyer Yamagumo, 10°25'N,
125°20'E, and damages destroyers Asagumo and Michisio. Subsequently,
light cruiser Denver (CL‑58) sinks Asagumo at entrance of Surigao
Strait, 10°04'N, 125°21'E. DESRON 24 (Captain Kenmore Mont McManes) enters the
fray and Hutchins (DD‑476) (McManes's flagship) sinks Michisio, 10°25'N,
123°25'E; DESRON 56 (Captain Roland Mont Smoot) attacks; Albert W. Grant (DD‑649)
is damaged by both friendly and Japanese gunfire at this phase of the battle,
10°27'N, 125°25'E. Two Australian warships take part in this fleet
action--heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire (in TG 77.3) and destroyer HMAS Arunta
(in DESRON 24)--that see the destruction of battleships Fuso and Yamashiro,
10°25'N, 125°20'E. Heavy cruiser Mogami and destroyer Shigure are
damaged.
Meanwhile,
the "Center Force" (Vice Admiral Kurita Takeo), which includes four
battleships and five heavy cruisers, having passed into the Philippine Sea
during the night, surprises TG 77.4 (Rear Admiral Thomas L. Sprague) off Samar.
Kurita's force wreaks havoc on the six escort carriers, three destroyers, and
four destroyer escorts of TU 77.4.3(northernmost carrier force) (Rear Admiral
Clifton A. F. Sprague). In this battle, which becomes a precipitate flight in
the face of an overwhelming enemy force, Kurita's ships inflict severe damage
but emerge bloodied by the Homeric efforts of the "small boys"
(destroyers and destroyer escorts) and planes from the escort carriers that
compel Kurita to retire, inexplicably, without destroying the CVEs and their
consorts in detail. In the Battle off Samar, Japanese surface gunfire sinks
destroyers Hoel, 11°46'N, 126°33'E; Johnston, 11°46'N, 126°09'E;
and destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts (DE‑413), 11°40'N, 126°20'E; and
damages destroyer Heermann (DD‑523), 11°40'N, 126°15'E; and destroyer
escort Dennis (DE‑405), 11°40'N, 126°20'E. Johnston damages heavy
cruiser Kumano.
Japanese
surface gunfire (either battleship Haruna or Kongo) straddles
escort carrier White Plains (CVE‑66), 11°40'N,126°20'E, St. Lo (CVE‑63),
and Kitkun Bay (CVE‑ 71) but scores no direct hits. Heavy cruisers Chikuma,
Haguro, and Chokai; light cruiser Noshiro; and a destroyer
sink escort carrier Gambier Bay (CVE‑73), 11°31'N, 126°12'E. Japanese
surface gunfire also damages Fanshaw Bay (CVE‑70) and Kalinin Bay (CVE‑68),
11°40'N, 126°20'E; the latter claims one hit on a Japanese heavy cruiser with
her single 5-inch gun. Navy carrier-based aircraft damage battleships Kongo
(from near-misses) and Yamato and heavy cruisers Chikuma, Chokai, and
Suzuya.
Subsequently,
Japanese planes attack escort carriers of TU 77.4.1 (Rear Admiral Thomas L.
Sprague). Suwannee (CVE‑27) is damaged by kamikazes, 09°45'N, 126°42'E,
and Santee (CVE‑29) by suicide plane and Japanese submarine I‑56, 09°45'N,
126°20'E. Kamikazes near-miss Sangamon, 09°45'N, 126°42'E, and Petrof
Bay (CVE‑80). Destroyer escort Richard Mont Rowell is damaged by
strafing, 10°05'N, 127°10'E.
Following its ordeal off Samar, TU 77.4.3 (Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague) comes under Japanese air attack. Kamikazes sink St. Lo, 11°13'N, 126°05'E, and damage Kalinin Bay and Kitkun Bay, 11°10'N, 126°20'E. At the same time, in the Battle off Cape Engano, carrier aircraft from the Third Fleet (Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.) strike the Japanese "Northern Force" (Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo). Planes from carriers Essex and Lexington sink carrier Zuikaku 220 nautical miles east-northeast of Cape Engano, 19°20'N, 125°51'E, and carrier Chitose 235 nautical miles east of Cape Engano, 19°20'N, 125°20'E; carrier Chiyoda, damaged by planes from carriers Lexington and Franklin and light carrier Langley, is sunk by heavy cruisers New Orleans and Wichita and light cruisers Santa Fe and Mobile(CL‑63) 260 nautical miles southeast of Cape Engano, 18°37'N, 126°45'E. Carrier Zuiho is sunk by planes from Essex, Franklin, Lexington, Enterprise, and light carrier San Jacinto east-northeast of Cape Engano, 19°20'N,125°51'E.
U.S.
aircraft, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, damage Japanese battleships Yamato
and Nagato and heavy cruiser Myoko in San Jose Strait;
battleship Haruna, east of Samar; light cruiser Yahagi off Leyte;
destroyer Kiyoshimo off Leyte. Heavy cruiser Chikuma, damaged by
carrier-based aircraft (TU 77.4.2) off Samar, is scuttled by destroyer Nowaki,
11°22'N, 126°16'E; heavy cruiser Suzuya, damaged by carrier- based
aircraft off Samar, is scuttled by destroyer Okinami, 11°50'N, 126°25'E;
heavy cruiser Chokai, damaged by carrier-based aircraft (TU 77.4.2) off
Samar, is scuttled by destroyer Fujinami, 11°26'N, 126°15'E; heavy
cruiser Mogami, damaged by heavy cruisers Minneapolis, Portland (CA‑33),
Louisville (CA‑28), light cruisers Columbia (CL‑56) and Denver,
and collision with heavy cruiser Nachi, south of Bohol Island, P.I.,
is scuttled by destroyer Akebono, 09°40'N, 124°50'E; light cruiser
Tama is sunk by aircraft from Essex and Lexington and
submarine Jallao (SS‑368), east of Luzon Strait, 21°23'N,127°19'E;
destroyer Hatsuzuki is sunk by the gunfire of four heavy cruisers and
twelve destroyers east north-east of Cape Engano, 20°24'N, 126°20'E.
Japanese
air attacks continue against shipping off Leyte: U.S. freighter Adoniram
Judson is attacked by Japanese planes off Tacloban; Armed Guard gunners
claim splashing six. One bomb explodes close aboard, causing fragmentation
damage and wounding two of the embarked stevedores. There are no casualties to
the ship's company:43 merchant seamen and 28 Armed Guards. Freighter John W.
Foster, anchored in San Pedro Bay, is strafed; 7 of the 27-man Armed Guard,
3 of 170 embarked troops, and 1 officer, are wounded.
Submarine Halibut
(SS‑232) sinks Japanese destroyer Akizuki east-northeast of Cape
Engaño, 20°29'N, 126°36'E.
Submarine Nautilus
(SS‑168) lands men and supplies on east coast of Luzon.
Submarine Seal
(SS‑183) sinks Japanese transport Hakuyo Maru, north of Urup,
Kurils, 50°18'N, 150°50'E.
Submarine Sterlet
(SS‑392) sinks Japanese merchant tanker Jinei Maru south of Yaku
Jima, 30°15'N, 129°45'E.
Fleet
tanker Matsumoto Maru sinks as the result of damage inflicted by
submarine Tang (SS‑306) in Formosa Strait the day before, 25°07'N,
119°45'E.
British
submarine HMS Tantivy sinks Japanese motor sail ship No.47 Tachibana
Maru in Flores Sea.
Navy F4Us
sink Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 62 north of Palaus.
Other
Japanese casualties include auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 52 sunk at
Palau, 07°30'N, 134°40'E; and merchant tanker Shoho Maru sunk by USAAF
aircraft in South China Sea, 11°18'N, 114°50'E.
US ARMY AIR FORCE
EIGHTH AF—Nearly 1,200 heavy bombers in 5 forces attack 3
oil refineries, Neumunster airfield and aircraft repair works, synthetic oil
targets at Gelsenkirchen and Scholven/Buer, and several other targets including
marshalling yards at Munster and Hamm. 11 fighter groups provide support.
NINTH AF—First Tactical AF (Provisional) is established,
but not yet organized, therefore Ninth AF continues to administer, supply, and
control all XII Tactical Air Command and assigned units until mid‑Nov when
First Tactical AF assumes full control. 9th Bomb division’s missions are
cancelled because of bad weather. Fighters fly sweeps, hit rail and military
targets in Saarbrucken area, and support US XIX Corps in Western Germany.
TWELFTH AF—Weather again grounds medium bombers. Fighter
bombers blast guns, vehicles, and communications in battle area South of
Bologna while fighters destroy over 20 locomotives in Piacenza area.
FIFTEENTH AF—Weather again limits operations. 3 B‑17’s bomb
Klagenfurt aircraft factory and Sankt Veit and der Glan marshalling yard. 5 P‑38’s
complete 3 weather reconnaissance missions.
FOURTEENTH AF—6 B‑25’s and 4 P‑38’s damage railroad tracks
at Dara bridge. 7 P‑38’s and P‑51’s hit Mongyu bridges and destroy Kawnghka
bridge. 4 others strafe Nawnghkio airfield. 20‑plus P‑51’s and P‑40’s on armed
reconnaissance attack targets of opportunity at Tengyun, Kweiping, and
Ssuanghsu, and about 50 strike targets throughout Menghsu area.
FEAF—50‑plus B‑24’s, supported by P‑38’s and P‑47’s, attack
naval forces in Mindanao Sea, firing small vessels and claiming a light cruiser
damaged. B‑24’s bomb Ambesia airfield and attack shipping in Makassar— Kendari
area. Fighter bombers hit barges and villages in areas of Dodinga and Wasile
Bays. B‑25’s, A‑20’s, and fighter bombers hit Piroe, Boela, Halong, Amboina,
Saparoea, Haroekoe, and Northern Ceram coastal targets. A‑20’s pound supply and
fuel dumps in Sarmi area.
TWENTIETH AF—59 B‑29’s, flying out of Chengtu, bomb
aircraft plant at Omura. Several other very heavy bombers hit alternate targets
and targets of opportunity.
SEVENTH AF—29 Saipan‑based B‑24’s bomb Iwo Jima during the
morning. Later during the day 4 B‑24’s from Saipan and Guam, on armed
reconnaissance missions, bomb Yap. 8 P‑47’s from Saipan bomb Pagan.
US ARMY
WESTERN EUROPE—21 Army Group: In Canadian First Army’s 2
Corps area, Canadian 2d Division, working slowly West along Beveland Isthmus,
reaches Rilland.
In British
1 Corps area, U.S. 104th Division drives North with 3 regiments abreast toward
Zundert.
12th Army Group:
In U.S. First Army area, boundary between VII and V Corps is temporarily
altered to give V Corps responsibility for Schmidt. V Corps takes command of
9th Division, less 47th Infantry which is at Schevenhuette. 28th Division
begins relief of battle-worn 9th Division in preparation for drive on Schmidt.
6th Army Group:
In U.S. Seventh Army’s XV Corps area, 44th Division withstands repeated
counterattacks against its positions East of Forêt de Parroy. French 2d Armored
Division is ordered to attack on right flank of corps in support of VI Corps
before 1 November.
In VI
Corps area, Gen Brooks, former commander of V Corps, takes command of corps,
replacing Gen Truscott. 36th Division attempts in vain to relieve isolated
battalion of 141st Infantry North of La Houssière.
NORWAY—Driving into Norway from Finland, Soviet forces of
Karelian Front clear Kirkenes.
ITALY—AAI: In U.S. Fifth Army area, elements of South African 6th Armored Division wade Setta Creek and take Hill 501, below Mont Sole. In II Corps area, further efforts to deepen Mont Grande salient, night 25–26, are costly failures. 362d Infantry, 91st Division, is attached to 88th Division and prepares to assist in attack.
In British
13 Corps area, 61st Brigade of 6th Armored Division gets elements to Mont Taverna,
night 25–26, but withdraws them because of tenuous supply situation.
In British Eighth Army area, 5 Corps reaches the Ronco from heights across from Meldola to Highway 9. 4th Division, which replaces 12th Brigade with 10th, takes Forlimpopoli without a fight. Attack across the Ronco begins night 25–26, Indian 10th Division establishing small bridgeheads South and North of Meldola and 4th Division crossing 2 companies North West of Selbagnone and 2 others at Highway 9. Canadian r Corps continues to pursue enemy toward the Ronco, coastal elements reaching the Bevano.
BURMA—NCAC offensive continues against light resistance.
29th Brigade of British 36th Division, which has progressed 23 miles from Namma
against negligible opposition, skirmishes with enemy in Mawpin area.
BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF—Aircraft and surface forces of Third
and Seventh Fleets decisively defeat Japanese Combined Fleet and
continue to attack it as it begins to retire. Seventh Fleet units defeat a
force that has moved through San Bernardino Strait while Third Fleet turns back
the decoy force to North.
LEYTE—U.S. Sixth Army: Patrol contact is established
between X and XXIV Corps at 1430. In X Corps area, on North Leyte, Japanese
aircraft attack Babatngon harbor. 1st Squadron of 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry
Division, during the next few days explores coast of Carigara Bay and finds few
Japanese there. 8th Cavalry is consolidating and improving positions in Juanico
Strait area. 2d Squadron of 8th Cavalry, because of supply difficulties, is
ordered to remain in position along Diit River and patrol rather than continue
drive toward Santa Cruz. In Palo area, 3d Battalion of 34th Infantry takes Hill
C. 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry, gains crest of Hill B after enemy defenders
have followed their customary practice of retiring from it for the night. 1st
Battalion, 19th, takes Hill 85. Reduction of these heights clears entrance into
North Leyte Valley. 3d Battalion, 19th Infantry, starts toward Pastrana,
reaching Castilla. In XXIV Corps area, patrol of 383d Infantry, 96th Division,
moves North through Tanauan and makes contact with Company K of 19th Infantry,
24th Division. Co. K, reinforced, attacks Tabontabon but withdraws when it
finds the town too strongly held to take. 382d Infantry seizes Aslom and
Kanmonhag. After preparatory bombardment, 2d and 3d Battalions of 32d Infantry,
7th Division, preceded by tanks, continue attack toward Buri airstrip. 3d
Battalion reaches edge of the field but 2d is halted by elaborate defenses at
edge of woods to North. 17th Infantry, opposed from ridge North of Burauen and
East of the road to Dagami, makes limited advance while concentrating for
another drive toward Dagami, clearing East spur of the ridge and probing road
to barrio of Buri.
PALAUS—On Peleliu, 323d Infantry, which has arrived from
Ulithi begins relieving 321st Infantry.
US MARINE CORPS
CinCPOA issues Joint Staff Study outlining plans for
Okinawa operation.
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