Halsey’s ego grabbed hold of his judgment and his responsibility as an officer. If the Japanese Center Force had maintain course, after brushing off Taffy 3, they would have made mince meat of Luzon invasion force. The troops ashore would have been trapped without ammunition, food, medical supplies and air cover. It is only because of the extreme courage and sacrifice of the men of Taffy 3, and a criminally bad command decision by Admiral Takeo Kurita, that the Philippine invasion wasn’t even more of a debacle. Even so, Halsey’s insubordination cost nearly 1,000 lives. He placed “running up the score” by sinking Japanese carriers that had no pilots or aircraft or prospect of obtaining either ahead of his mission, which was to protect the lives of soldiers, and marines, and the sailors who were supporting them.
Kurita apparently thought that Halsey was leading him into a trap, it couldn’t be that easy. But Kurita’s orders were to destroy the Luzon invasion force or die trying. He just couldn’t believe that Halsey had fallen into the Japanese’s obvious trap and failed to take advantage of the unique opportunity. If he had, the blow to the American campaign in the Pacific and the home front would have been severe. As it was, the largest battleship ever built, the Yamato, went to bottom a few months later without ever having fired her 18 inch naval rifles in anger.