The action off of Samar Island by the sailors of Taffy 3, commanded by Adm. Clifton Sprague, was the most heroic action in the history of the US Navy, indeed among the greatest in the whole history of the US Armed Forces.
In particular, the actions of the USS Johnston, and it’s CO, Commander Evans, almost beggar belief when you consider the power of the mighty Japanese force arrayed against the destroyer and destroyer escort screen of Task Unit 77.4.3. They did not hesitate for a second when ordered by Adm. Sprague to counterattack and run cover for the Task Unit.
I believe that just one of the battleship Yamato’s turrets weighed more than all of Fletcher class destroyers in that action.
My favorite line from this fight came from an anonymous AA gunner on one of the slow little escort carriers being pursued by fast Japaneses heavy cruisers was emblematic of their dogged courage; “We’re luring them into 40mm range!!!”
LOL! That sounds about right.
The Japanese initially were firing far over the US ships because they thought they were big ships further away (instead of small ships closer to them); that really says it all in terms of the matchup. An incredible display of guts by the US sailors.