[EternalVigilance]

That’s what happened.

Which meant that a very small portion of the Seventh Fleet had to confront the strongest remaining force in the Japanese Navy.

Fortunately, they fought like hell and turned them away, at a great sacrifice.

Basically the Japanese and the Americans are going to get the decisive naval battle they want this week. Spelling the demise of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

[colorado tanker]

The charge of the destroyers off Samar in my mind is one of the most distinguished chapters in U.S. Naval history. Those skippers knew they were on a suicide mission but they did it without orders because they knew only that could stop the Japanese. It reminds me of Chamberlain's charge at Gettysburg. Can't retreat. Can't stand still. Only option is to charge.

Nimitz was reportedly furious with Halsey for not detaching Task Force 34 and leaving it behind to protect the northern flank. Even if Halsey had sent it south after the first distress signal from 7th Fleet they could have engaged the Center Force before it retreated back through the Strait. I read somewhere that Nimitz did not give him command of another invasion fleet for the duration of the war.