The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance - July 5th, 2003

http://www.militarymuseum.org/Spruance.html ^ | Mark J. Denger

[colorado tanker]

It makes me wonder if Spruance didn't avoid a Halsey like lunge for empty Japanese carriers that so nearly caused extreme disaster at the Battle Off Samar Island. (The Leyte landing could have been annihilated, something like 40,000 Americans killed and captured.) Looks like Halsey fell for the bait Spruance resisted.

That was exactly my thought as I read the post. Halsey darn near got the invasion force destroyed when he went galloping after the Japanese fleet. Had the Japanese been commanded by an officer as aggressive as Halsey or Spruance, we probably would have lost those men and ships. Spruance made the right call IMHO.

[SAMWolf]

Hi Colorado Tanker.

If the Japanese hadn't over-complicated the plan (a bad habit they had) at Leyte they may have succeeded at reaching the landing areas and causing large loss of men and shipping.

[colorado tanker]

Hi Sam!

If the Japanese hadn't over-complicated the plan (a bad habit they had)

Isn't that the truth. Bad decisions by the Japanese high commands and bad decisions imposed by Hitler on the German General Staff sure helped us out during WWII.

[bedolido]

If the Japanese hadn't over-complicated the plan (a bad habit they had) at Leyte they may have succeeded at reaching the landing areas and causing large loss of men and shipping.

The Battle for Leyte Gulf was amazing. Halsey gets suckered out by carriers without planes. His task force 58 (?) with 12 heavy carriers and hundreds of support ships including 20 or so fast battleships were rendered useless.

Odendorf crossed the "T" (second time since the revolutionary war) and destroyed a japanese battleship force in the surgaio (sp) straights.

Our "Baby" flattops were attacked by the largest battleship ever built (sister ship to the Yamoto) Musashi (?... or something like that). If they would've of continued on, they would have definately stopped the invasion. Killed many a solder and brave sailor.

But as usual, the Japanese were overly-cautious and turned back. Next to Pearl Harbor and Midway, the biggest mistake they made.