Batlefied S2/E5 - The Battle of Leyte Gulf
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ต.ค. 2012
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NBC Universal
Directed by Dave Flitton, Andy Aitken, James Wignall
Produced by Dave Flitton (series prod.), David McWhinnie, Ken Maliphant, David Rozalla
Written by Dave Flitton, Andy Aitken, James Wignall
Narrated by Jonathan Booth
Music by David Galbraith
Distributed by Public Broadcasting Service
Release date(s) 1996
Running time 6 116-minute episodes
Country USA
Language English
In my opinion, This is the greatest WWII documentary. Each episode cover in details the strategies, equipment, and actual battle implementations. The narrator is great.
An excellent, well produced presentation.
You ever seen "the perilous fight America's ww2 in color"?
Check out Jon Parshall, the unauthorized history of WW2 as well as my personal fav history channel-Drachinifel.
they don't make them like that anymore, it almost felt like reading a book, nowdays is a waste of time, producers have become stupid and uneducated.
The narrator was a gentleman called Tim Piggot-Smith ( fairly famous actor in the UK ). He’s passed on unfortunately.
As a trained fighter pilot I had been assigned to Fighting Squadron 14 aboard Wasp during this engagement. Most of my flying was in defense from Japanese aerial attacks. What I didn't know was that in the preceding battle of the Philippine Sea, the Japanese aerial offensive force had been destroyed.
It was here that our surface forces crossed the "T" of a line of Japanese forces entering Leyte Gulf from the South. the Japanese forces were nearly annihilated.
I would give an arm and a leg to hear more of your experiences! :O
@@ThroneOfBhaal please tell us more of your experiences 😊
This generation of pussies needs to hear it and thank you for your brave service and God bless you 🙏
Thank you for saving my nation. Filipino here.
DeusmVolt
My father served in the 5th US Cavalry, First Cavalry Division. He landed at Leyte on 20 Oct. 1944. 65 years later, he described to me how he and his unit fought their way to the top of a high mountain west of Tacloban. From the top of that mountain, on the night the US Navy's battleships fought off the Japanese in the Surigao Strait by "crossing the T", he watched in the distance the tremendous flashes of the naval guns. He said it was like watching a lightening storm the likes of which he had never seen before..and which he never saw again.
My Dad landed in that day also, 24th. Div. ,19th. Infantry reg. He served all over the Philippines
Thanks to your father sir
the mountain west of Leyte is Mount Buga-buga or known as Buga-buga Hill
Thanks to your father sir for being part of our freedom from Japanese. My big salute and respect for them!
God bless you and your Father.
God I miss series like this. Good detail, impartial, just facts.
I am from Leyte and I'm truly grateful to all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives and helped us during this battle. ✿ ♡♡
All the troops are, in return, grateful to the people of the Philippines who gave them aid and fought against the Japanese. The Filipinos were very kind to troops, and tried so hard (while in fear for their own lives) to help the POWs and the relatively few who managed to escape their savage captors. God bless the Filipino people.
@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 I love the Filipino people!!! I've worked with them for many years.
A kind and gentle people.
Also? Their food is awesome!!!
@@tedhernandez2394
It’s unfortunate that I’ve never been there but I believe with all my heart in their warmness, kindness, and their undoubtable, unshakable bravery in the face of extreme adversity. The Filipino people I’ve met over the years here are all such fine people. I’ve had some dishes made with their recipes and one of my favorites is Ribs Mindanao which I used to prepare often, and some chicken dishes made with citrus. Those people have been through so much over the years and I pray for peace in their island homelands. God bless them, and I always thank anyone of them I meet in comments sections. They have always been so nice.
@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 Agree 💯 even today Most Filipinos Should know .We have there back 110 % even against a Larger Country like China
@@chanceberg832
They more than deserve it, if it comes to that. I surely pray not, but the state of the geopolitical landscape doesn’t give anyone much in odds in the future.
The vision of the USS Johnston, Hoel and Heermann charging out of Taffy 3's smoke-screen to attack the Yamato and the rest of the Japanese fleet is one of the greatest scenes in American military history. It was their heroism that saved the beachhead at Leyte and covered up Halsey's bullheaded blunder at leaving San Bernardino Strait unguarded.
Kip Cecil Not just U.S. naval history, anybody's naval history. What the men on the Johnston and others achieved that day was incredible.
Amazing how those destroyers even managed to stay afloat with all those big brass balls weighing them down.
***** Well... I personally rate Trafalgar higher.
Jason Liu
Apples and oranges. Trafalgar was a clash of powerful fleets of ships of the line. At Leyte light units of the USN charged against overwhelming, seemingly suicidal, odds in a desperate bid to save the landing force it was their duty to protect. I think even Nelson would applaud.
***** I acknowledge how the Destroyers fought like lions. But in terms of strategy, Halsey acted foolishly.
Best series on WWII so far; most thorough and not overblown to try to "lure" the viewer. If you want to actually learn about WWII, this is the series to watch. Thank you for posting this.
sorry wrong. If you want to actually learn about WWII you need to read volumes of books. this crap is so full of errors and bs - the only way you can know this is by reading. Don't be discouraged though. Depending on how good a reader you are, it might take only 20 years. I've been reading about it for over 50 years and I have finally scratched the surface.
No one is trying to get there doctorate in this crap. This is accurate enough not to complain like you are. If you’ve been reading this long and haven’t gotten your doctorate on it yet makes you no expert at all. Just a reader. Hey maybe the books are wrong.
Jeffrey Torgalski the narrative style.
L
@@DN-cz7rp This is an over-simplified though decent narative, a TV show for its time (made in the early '90s). It does have errors and misconceptions but it's not an academic tool nor does it claim to be. It is made for the general public and it does a decent job at it. Most books are full of errors and biases, as I came to be intimately acquainted during my years at the University (Contemporary/Military History). Step a bit down from the cloud of contempt and take things a bit more lightly.
Excellent narrator. Great original footage and script. No computer generated nonsense.
My god what a beautiful thing this is. A history program that’s just that. No flair, no frills, no cgi(although cgi naval tables are excellent), just the story, facts, archival footage and pertinent information/backstory. This is truly an amazing throwback from my youth. This is one of the shows that got me hooked, if not THE show that got me hooked into history.
This was a MUCH better explanation of the Leyte Gulf than Battlefield's 360.
I thought 360 did alright
Go see for yourself. They don't waste time with interviewing people that weren't their and have no true insight on the battles.
Prelude
Leaders
Strategy for Defense
The Commanders
The Opposing Forces: US Pacific Fleet
US Weapons
The Men
Imperial Navy: Weapons
The Men
Eve of the Battle
The Battle
Order of Battle
Formosa
Phase 2: The Sibuyan Sea
Phase 3: Decoy
Phase 4: The Surigao Strait
Phase 5: Samar
Phase 6: Cape Engano
It's extremely detailed and amazing comprehensive. Better than a wiki page
saquist I understand, this video did much better. I just meant that 360 didn't do terribly.
battle 360 is more for flash really. this one is straight out facts.
stuka80 Yeah, makes sense. 360 has a more personal feel i guess. Vets n stuff.
0:01 - 11:55 is a recap of the war in the pacific up to the battle of the Marianas
11:56 - 19:54 talks through he rational of invading the Philippines instead of Formosa
19:55 - 57:35 is the lead up to Battle of Leyte Gulf with the details of the ships and forces
57:35 is when the Leyte Gulf battle starts
1:13:10 is when the first navel battle starts
Thanks, this is really helpful!
Thanks! This is what I love about the Battlefield series. Nearly an hour before getting into the actual battle. The details leading up to the battles are crucial to understanding the whole situation.
Every single episode is structured the same.
Thanks buddy
god
job im so proud of the pilipins
The United States of America was once our enemy. After the Spanish occupation, the Philippines became a colony of America. But in World War II, although Gen. Mac Arthur fled our country, he promised to return. He did. Our enemy of the past, became our ally, and still to this day our nations remain so. As a Filipino, I will always be grateful for the American soldiers who came back, fought, and died for our freedom.
I only wish we could work harder to improve quality of life together for both great peoples.
What do you think of the current dictator who has taken over the Philippines who is killing his own people on this war on drugs that he is waging? Which is actually a war on his own people
@Kill Joy let me give you a few accurate stats Portugal decriminalized all narcotics and provided real treatment at the will of the patient drug abuse among teens decreased 80% in 4 years Duarte the hunn murderer has been killing his citizens and the murdering has increased 80% in the last 6 years and you say he is not a killer drug abuse is a medical problem to be solved by medical drs authoritarian murdering dictatorships have not worked in 200 ears eventually there is allways an uprising
@Kill Joy Exactly, poor living condition lead to addiction. Maybe curb poverty rather than impose an authoritarian rule?
Kamusta ka. You're very welcome, and I hope we remain staunch allies forever. Love the Philippines and plan on retiring there.
Best military series of all time. Leyte Gulf was the death knell for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
I would agrue that the IJN was done after Midway. Lyete was the final nail in the coffin.
@@rerickf Not really, because the USN lost Yorktown at Midway, which they could not afford to lose in 1942. Even after Midway they still ended up sinking about 30 U.S. warships (not just transport ships) at the Guadalcanal campaign, including sinking the two aircraft carriers USS Hornet and USS Wasp. It wasn't until after Guadalcanal when the USN could say that they decisively defeated the Japanese at sea. The naval battles of Guadalcanal were far more important than the overrated land-based Guadalcanal battles that the USMC overhype and overglorify to the detriment of the sacrifice of 30 sunken USN warships and 5,000 KIA sailors in the Guadalcanal naval battles.
It wasn't until the Battle of the Philippine Sea when the Japanese naval aircraft and aircraft carriers were smashed and defeated. They still had a powerful surface navy and land-based aircraft which they used to devastating effect in Leyte Gulf. After Leyte Gulf all the Japanese could do was use kamikazes, which they used to devastating effect at Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The Japanese even after they were supposedly defeated at the Philippine Sea in June 1944 still sank 3 U.S. aircraft carriers and killed 2,000 USN sailors at Leyte Gulf. The Arisan Maru hell ship with 1,800 U.S. POWs was also sunk during Leyte Gulf. So was the submarine (USS Shark) that sank Arisan Maru. Leyte Gulf was the greatest WWII naval battle by far and involved all types of ships and tactics. Kamikazes started at Leyte Gulf and all the sailors at Okinawa and Lingayen Gulf know how successful kamikazes were compared to disasters like the non-kamikaze Battle of the Philippine Sea.
This was essentially the naval version of the Battle of Kursk: The last chance to turn the tide before being completely overwhelmed by the opposing side's crushing superiority in men and material. After the IJN lost he Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Philipines, the war was basically decided and the Japanese military just stuck around and pretended that it wasn't, which resulted in countless, utterly pointless deaths.
They fought because they wanted to protect their families and emperor maybe?
I was talking about why they continued fighting not about why they did the war crimes they did that is a different subject
Corristo89 : America in the 1930’s had a sizeable population of anti war activists...it was indeed Providential that America still produced weapons so that they able to lend them to Russia and Britain in 1939 ( remember Murmansk Run for Russia & Atlantic convoys for Britain) had the weapons production been inadequate it could have been a different world today.... China is now a threat using economic influence & debt traps from South East Asia & Oceania to Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan , Iran & Turkey .... a pre meditated plan using economic, biological CCP virus & Technology & computer hacking ( Huawei etc) and military.... I hope America have enough energy to counter the China - Russia red tide rising....
I think battle of Guadalcanal was the last chance. At Midway, the Japanese were clearly superior and suffered a major setback. At guadacalanal the two sides were even, and the Japanese even managed to get the US down to only one carrier in the entire pacific theatre (Enterprise). But after the Japanese gave up on Guadalcanal, it was all over but the killing. The only question was how many lives was each side willing to lose? That’s what Leyte Gulf was all about. Even if the plan succeeded. Japan was not going to win the war. The US had already overwhelmed them in terms of manpower and carriers. All they could hope for was a Vietnam style impasse, that the public would get so sick of the massive casualties that they would demand a negotiated settlement. And the lives lost would have been massive, make no mistake. Imagine D-Day, but 100x worse. As was typical with Japanese losses in the war though, it was their own poor intelligence gathering that doomed them. There was never any question about their tenacity of their sprit, or the quality of their ships and commanders, but you can’t fight what you can’t see.
Outstanding series! I highly recommend this series as it is factual. Historians would appreciate this collection. My Fad served under General George S. Patton;Old Blood and Guts. I later served in The Second Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas in 1988. Went to Operation Desert Storm. General Scharwzkoppf was a excellent combat Theatre Commander. Like Patton he was always results oriented. Huge respect and honour to Special Operations Forces special thank you to SAS Teams. Tip of the Spear! Destroyed Iraqi Scud Missle sites.
Love the detail in this series..more history and less sensationalist entertainment than other "history" (note I did not mention any names) accounts..
Detail too is the better explosives used in the Amarican guns.
@@HamanKarn567 When something is shown on TV, it's a pretty good indicator for being utter bs.
@@HamanKarn567 I strongly recommend checking out @drachinifel 's work on naval history, he puts out quality, detailed vids.
I agree. This is perhaps the best documentary series on WWII for people who have more than just a superficial interest. For newer documentaries, historian/author Dr. Mark Felton's two TH-cam channels are the best. He does excellent research, is always interesting, and is objective, does not pull punches, or have an agenda.
Drachinifel is a superb historiographer. I cannot recommend him enough.
It was a crushing defeat for the Japanese Navy, courtesy of the US Navy.
I was impressed by the way this video stuck to the facts, no hypes, no crap and no opinions. It's a good demonstration of the difficulties faced by senior commanders once an operation has commenced, the importance of accurate post mission reports and how decisions made by relatively junior commanders can swing a battle either way.
This was an impressive US victory.
The "Battlefield" series is by far the best videos on the Second World War. Thank you for posting this one Vasile.
I wish this series was brought back.
"...their primary viewing audience..."
Yeah, nobody under eighty is interested in WW2. That's why no video games have ever been set during it, right?
World War 3, 3rd season of the series
The best account of that titanic fight ever.
Honor both contenders.
For US, certainly one of her numerous finest hours.
What many people never hear about is that after the landings at Leyte the liberators did not sit on the ass but helped the local occupants to rebuild their lives. I have met many American ex-serviceman in Leyte and every one was an inspiration. Alas none left now but I feel privileged to have met them. Type into you tube Dulag hill 120 and you will see how much we respect and love those that gave a chance of a better life. I am back in UK and old man now but I be back soon.
@@peterharwood1430 were you able to get back?
@@kbanghart I have been exposing corruption in our Judicial and medical professions and the British foreign office has revoked my passport. I hope to get an honest judge to make a ruling on the return of my passport. I rebuilt the house destroyed in the Haiyan typhoon and it has a guest room if you would like to visit. It is just 100 meters from the South Pacific Ocean between Samar and Surigao. My admin officer is called Jennifer Aucila and her phone number is 00639465604246. Give her a call and she will collect you from Tacloban Airport as my guest. Take care my friend.
I'm most impressed by two sets of ships for their bravery in the face of overwhelming odds: 1) the destroyers of Taffy 3 and 2) the IJN southern force in San Bernardino.
The Southern force commander knew his force was likely to be destroyed and steamed into the teeth of the US fleet regardless, determined to keep to his part of the Sho plan. They had been spotted and attacked by carrier aircraft and kept on going while the far more powerful Center Force faltered in the Sibuyan Sea.
The US destroyers of TF3 charged ships many times their size, fighting fiercely as faithful dogs protecting their masters, the carriers. Particularly, the USS Johnston and USS Samuel B. Roberts fought far beyond their weight class in defense of their all-but-defenseless countrymen on the slow, poorly-armored light carriers.
due to the IJN not having identity information for escort carriers, they assumed that they were fleet carriers and their escorts were Battleships, and thus loaded AP... a bunch of the carriers received many non vital hits due to the fact that it was AP so it went straight through... much later in the battle they realized their mistake and loaded HE which lead to the sinking of Gambia Bay
In a note of interest was Nishimura's southern force possibly also being a distraction like northern force with Ozawa's carriers. Of course Nishimura, his second in command, and the captain Yamashiro never lived to tell, but in a last message from Yamashiro as the climax of battleship and cruiser gunfire was raining down, Nishimura sent out "We proceed till totally annihilated, I have definitely accomplished my mission as pre-arranged. Please rest assured". Being that it is generally believed Nishimura was suppose to hit the transports rather than the deadly force he faces now, perhaps his force was always meant to draw away the bombardment force and allow Kurita to move in with Yamato and the rest of his ships.
@@sse_weston4138it appears nishimura certainly saw it that way. He didnt mind dying either-he'd lost his son earlier in the war. Kurita also did not mind southern force being split off as it allowed him to increase his cruising speed rather than having to slow down for the lumbering Fuso and Yamashiro.
@@thenumbah1birdman Didn't think about that aspect of it with regards to top speed being slowed. Sometimes I forget how slow the Fuso class were lol
Uncle Leo was ashore on Leyte itself when the battles were going on. He said at night you could see the glowing 14" and 16" shells passing over during land bombardment, and could feel a gentle bump off the ground when they landed. For some reason, he said what really struck him was that each of the shells was the same weight as a army jeep.
I think i have watched this upload 100 times now...its my go to sleep show...i know it word for word now so i don't keep watching and actually fall asleep quickly.. This is my favorite part of the war These men were the greatest generation....
I go to sleep with a 1,000 plus episode playlist of WWII shows playing on an endless loop.
My grandfather was at leyte gulf aboard the destroyer uss John w weeks. Manning a .22 mm anti aircraft gun
Shon C maybe you mean a 20mm ? You see a gun round made for squirrel hunting isn’t as effective against aircraft. As in the way you wrote “.22”
Woww thanks for him coming here in the Philippines
My late father-in-law was a side gunner on a bomber during WW2. Towards the end of the war he was stationed in the Philippines and there became romantically involved with a Philippino woman (this was before he met the wiman who became his wife) and they lived together. Last year as my father-in-law's health was deteriorating there was a young Philippino nurse at the nursing home. Every once in a while my father-in-law would tell out his old Philippino girl friend's name and tell her TO GET IN THE BED. My wife says her Dad always yelled and ordered the family around. Even so he was always a kind and generous soul.
@@jgja1931 (Of course, it took 46 years and a volcano to get them to leave again...😉)
@@swrennie lels colonization years
Rule of thumb in a war - if an officer tells you to expect light opposition, prepare for Armageddon.
If you could do so much better, step the hell up and get a commission. Easy too judge from the arm chair.
NuxVom always prepare for Armageddon !
Except that you can only try to prepare for such possibilities in your mind, it's not like you will be getting any extra gear cuz you disagree with what you were told. Not that I have served, but I'm guessing this is true lol unless someone wants to set me straight
This is a really good historical review of not only the Battle at Leyte Gulf but how events 2-3 years earlier led up to them. Really a good job !
The Japanese Navy lost the war in a single afternoon, courtesy of the US Navy. That was an amazing victory for the US.
a,, t
y
@@antonyberger1309 Too bad you never learned how to communicate in English.
Equal Opportunity War Criminal It’s probably just a toddler accidentally mashing some random buttons on his parents iPad.
i would say the japanese lost the war on midway, since it was there that they lost most of their carrier fleet, and most importantly, they lost a huge ammount of well trained crewmen and pilots
One of the best documentary series ever.
ya if you like brit propaganda
@@DN-cz7rp or if you like the truth, twat
@@DN-cz7rp You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. I bet you are one of SOBs tearing down statues now. I am truly sorry for you sir - you should be ashamed!
@@mikelucas3119 tearing down racist slave owner statues are bad? What are you smoking?
@@DN-cz7rp truth
It is a shame that neither the USS Johnston nor the USS Samuel B. Roberts were mentioned by name in this video. From other accounts, these two ships fought way beyond what was expected of them and both were sunk. However, the ferocity of the fight in these two ships likely factored into the Japanese battleship Yamato -- the largest battleship ever built -- to turn and run! It remains a heart-wrenching story to this day.
Best series on WWII I have watched. I highly recommend this series to all who will listen. Just outstanding work - very nicely done. Sorry to say - it is extremely under appreciated. A lot of footage from The Fighting Lady - documentary about the USS Yorktown CV-10. Which, btw, is a museum in Charleston, SC - been there many times.
My uncle William C. O'Rourke I was at the Battle for Leyte Gulf aboard the USS Southerland DD-743 which was the turning point of World War II in the Pacific. My father in law was in the U.S. Army on Leyte during that battle.
Midway was the turning point. Leyte Gulf was the killing blow that wiped out the Japanese navy as a force for the rest of the war.
Big salute to your uncle though for being in the biggest naval battle in history.
My great admiration and thanks to you by that. The presence in war requires valour and courage, over all if is to liberate the world from tyranny. Thanks and Farewell.
J
Hh
My Grandfather's father said that he killed a Japanese Leader
He even showed me the sword
Christopher O’Rourke, I would be grateful if you could put me in touch with your uncle and/or father-in-law if they are willing to let me ask them a few questions. I am not a professional historian, but I have heard that sleep deprivation played an important role in the Battle (s) of Leyte Gulf and
My grandfather was a gunners mate on the USS Honolulu at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It was his last combat experience. The Honolulu was damaged and he went to OTS. My other grandpa was fighting on Leyte in the Sixth Army under McCarthur.
My Dad was there, Radarman on USS COLUMBIA CL-56 Columbia returned to the Pacific, covering the landings at Peleliu and taking part in the Battle of Surigao Strait on the night of October 24-25 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Whilst covering the landings during the Lingayen Gulf invasion on January 6, 1945, she was struck by a kamikaze, and was further hit by a second kamikaze three days later while laying close to shore due to the prior damage. Under repairs until June 1945, Columbia returned to the Pacfic, participating in the Allied invasion of Borneo and serving in the East China Sea when Japan capitulated in mid-August.
As rich and detailed as this series is, I so love reading the comment sections and learning about individual experiences of military personnel who were there at the time, or from their children relaying their experiences. So many footnotes of history that add to my knowledge of events. I salute the members of the Greatest Generation, and the children that help to keep their parents personal exploits and memoirs of events on a macro scale, alive. I hope my country can regain that pride and self respect again.
I was there at the monument of General Mac's landing ceremony back in mid 2000's. Even Japanese military were there also drinking and shaking hands with one another. It even gave me tears though as US Navy sailor here in Japan, I'm glad we all came in peace for both the US, Japan and Philippines. Even today, Japan still supports the Philippines in many ways, including New Navy Ships and Other types of units, as well as Reconn missions for terrorism activities. Here in Japan, still has ceremonies for the A-bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August. In December, the attack of Pearl Harbor. Now we all have a new war, the War on Terrorism. Stay safe everyone.🙏🙏🗾🌸
Excellent series. Tim Piggott Smith is the best narrator of documentaries ever. Soo relaxing. I know it's weird, but I listen to this or battlefield sounds to sleep to. I'm a Gulf War era veteran, but I've heard others say the same that weren't.
I have listened to this documentary off and on since the 1990s and I listen to it to sleep. The narration and sounds really help me sleep.
@@Walkdogable Same here!
By the way..the USS Enterprise CV 6 {the big E} made it all the way through WW2.Did a LOT of damage.After being damaged early on it was fitted with special radar and that bulge below to detect underwater attack.So a pre WW2 vessel made it all the way through did a huge amount of damage & the crew and vessel was awarded accordingly. Gotta love it. Even from an Army grunt such as myself
when I was younger, id watch this series on Military Channel, usually really early in the morning, around 5am, and see my parents before they went to work.
its a great thing to sleep to, tbh.
To this day, The Guinness Book of World Records lists Commander Evans on USS Johnston as the man possessing the biggest balls in history.
Uncle Ray survived the sinking of the Hoel, one of the Taffy 3 destroyers. Spent 5 days on a raft watching fellow sailors die. Finally he swam to Samar, one of only 2 survivors of the 73 or so on that raft (and floater net). Those guys were all heroes…. This battle has been special to me since I became aware of it all back in the 1960s….
L
General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz were brilliant officers, and true American patriots. God bless their souls.
I found my Dads journal fromMay 26th1944-December 5th 1945. It details this battle he was there on last 26. He never shared this with us while he was living.
Uncle Hap, short for Happy, came back from WW2 not speaking to hardly anyone. He functioned etc. In the 1960'she would lend the family his riverhouse several times, after we all got at his place he would always be on the porch close to a door, he would look at us, no happy smile,, look at the floor not speaking, and be gone in under 15 seconds. He saw too much in WW 2.
My Dad was there, Radarman on USS COLUMBIA CL-56 Columbia returned to the Pacific, covering the landings at Peleliu and taking part in the Battle of Surigao Strait on the night of October 24-25 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Whilst covering the landings during the Lingayen Gulf invasion on January 6, 1945, she was struck by a kamikaze, and was further hit by a second kamikaze three days later while laying close to shore due to the prior damage. Under repairs until June 1945, Columbia returned to the Pacfic, participating in the Allied invasion of Borneo and serving in the East China Sea when Japan capitulated in mid-August.
I fall asleep to one of these every night..
Never fails.
The tragedy back then was that once MacArthur decided to bypass Mindinao nobody thought to cancel the invasion of Pelelieu 500 miles east of Mindinao. Many died there for no real reason.
1. MacArthur did NOT decided to bypass Mindanao. . . The decision was made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), after ADM Halsey recommended that Leyte be invaded, thus bypassing Mindanao.
2. Even if they had decided to invade Mindanao, the plan was to seize the Palau Islands. After the decision to invade Leyte instead, the operation to take the Palau Islands was not changed. Either way, Peleliu was going to be invaded. MacArthur had no input, as that operation was under the command of Nimitz.
3. As an "Oh by the way" point of history, Halsey recommended to Nimitz that The Peleliu operation be cancelled and the troops assigned be used in the Leyte operation, but he was overruled by Nimitz.
4. As another point of history, the 1st Marine Regiment at Peleliu was commanded by COL Lewis B. (Chesty) Puller, later Commandant of the Marine Corps.
William Elwood
Chesty Puller, my hero.
*****
Ha!
General MacArthur had no problem sacrificing our men for his youtube moment at Leyte. Make no mistake he was a great tactician but his ego had failed him when it counted most. Too many men died so Mac could stand on the Missouri and declare "all hostilities over." I used to revere this man, No longer. Unlike other great US generals, he showed very little regard for the lives of his troops. I'm reminded of Gen. Sherman's relationship with his troops. MacArthur was loathed and despised not just by his subordinate officers but by the very men that executed his battle plans.
Sabra:
I agree. 23,000 U.S. troops died on Pelelu. That Island could have been bypassed
and the 30,000 Japanese occupying it could have been left to starve.
i live near the this battle... you can see them below underwater if you pass them in boats...its so eerie with all those boats visible from above...
Thank you very much for taking the time to put this together - you did amazing work!!!
This battle included HMAS Australia and Shropshire; the destroyers Arunta and Warramunga; the infantry landing ships Westralia, Kanimbla and Manoora; the frigate Gascoyne; and the motor launch HDML 1074. Australia was the first ship to be hit by a kamikaze aircraft.
+Withab BJ Well... Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are often overlooked.
Pretty sure HMAS Australia took several kamikaze hits and stayed on station.tough ship,tougher crew
This is a great series. I wish all the episodes were available in sequence. High quality documentaries overall.
+Elias De Leone u can jus research them and compile a playlist
500 Japanese aircraft shot down by Task Force 38 during the Formosa raids. The F6F Hellcat had turned the tide starting with The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. It could outclimb the Japanese yet was armored like a tank. With six .50 cal machine guns it was lethal and ensured that all other operations in the Pacific after it arrived on the scene were successful. Grumman Aircraft and an army of engineers and riveters across America delivered a superb fighter, a war winner.
Halsey never admit his failure to protect the land fleet when he left to pursue the Japanese carriers. He took the bait.
My dad and uncle were in the USS McKee DD575
The announcer's voice is the best in the business.! Great show.
Vintage Brit narration
Great documentry, I really like this series it's very analithical, logical and has no fluff to their nariritive.
Thank much !!!
the narrative is so inaccurate you need to read a lot of good books to get the facts
Best series ever
Thank you so much Vasile. I enjoy all your ww2 videos. Better than other ww2 docs
These Battlefield documentaries never fail in their excellence. Thanks for posting!!
These war footage never gets old.
2023 I still watch this series!!!
Combat footage is brilliant!!!
my pappy-81st Infantry Division 323 Regiment, was the first ship there in the evening, by the next morning he said there were 5,000 ships as far as the eye could see.....
Thank you for the upload...! I can remember as a child my grandfather telling me about this (and other) Pacific battles, so it's really cool to be able to learn all the details of what happened. My grandfather was a gunner's mate on USS Benham DD-796, a Fletcher class Destroyer, which was part of task force 38 during this battle. He had some amazing stories that he told my brother and I when we were youngsters. Unfortunately, like much of the greatest generation, he passed a few years ago.
God Bless your father and many others of The Greatest Generation of all time I salute to your Father and many other bravery.
the suburb of elizabeth east in south Australia, streets are named after these great men and there ships ...kinkaide road, yorktown, midway , halsey, nimits and many more .. these brave men helped save my country .
Your troops fought with us, and in all fronts. Those brave men are to be commended and thanked.
This was incredibly well done, thorough, and clarified much for me.
Guadalcanal was the battle that really broke the back of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The U.S./Allies lost a lot of ships, but they could be replaced/repaired. The I.J.N. didn't have the ability to do that. Over time, the I.J.N. would inevitably grow weaker, while the U.S./Allied Navies only grew stronger.
Ernest Spencer Chester Nimitz sent his old ships to the South Pacific. The newly built ships were massed at Pearl Harbor
The entire Japanese strategy in the war at least at the outset was the surprise Pearl Harbor attack to get the US to stagger back and be unable to stop Japans rapid initial advance. They knew that the US would eventually get its massive war industry up and running and knew it would then be turned on them. The plan at that point would be that Japan controlled and fortified so much territory that the US would decide that it would be too costly to try and take it back.
really wow
It would have worked if they didn’t bomb Pearl Harbor. That became a rallying cry.
They just didn't want Oil embargo.Hoped for a decisive battle to get America to sign a treaty. They should have invaded Russia with their Allie,Germany. The US are either very dumb or they knew Pearl Harbour was going to be attacked.
Im glad America step in if not i will be speaking Japanese now
Interesting documentary. Thanks for posting
These are the best videos of WW2 ever.
So much better than any history teacher in class could deliver
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was an amazing victory by the US Navy.
My dad was at Leyte on D day +1 on a small vessel LCT 864. I keep looking for him. He told me after surviving the battle, they almost died in a huge typhoon that hit them!
That typhoon was terr. Try reading victory at sea. Terrifying!
My grandfather was in the 28th special naval construction batallion - a seabee. They built a camp on ewetok, built further infrastructure at ULithi for a harbor to house the fifth fleet, and built and repaired daily the airfields on Samar - one island up from macaurthurs invasion beach, after the war some of them went to Japan including grandad, to tour and inventory American bases around the world. His experience gives me such pride in the marines and navy.
At 29 y/o, my Father volunteered to fight for our nation. Because he had no birth certificate, the only branch that would take him at 29 , was The USMC. And, so it was that on 8/7/1942, he was in the very 1st platoon of The 1st Marines, to walk on to the Beach at Guadalcanal. Dad lasted 6 weeks of Hell, before Dengue Fever & " Combat Fatigue " nearly killed him. He was evac'd to New Zealand for 19 months, where he finally regained enough health to return to The USA. In Oakland, CA, he spent another 6 months before his Honorable Discharge, with The Navy Cross, & a small lifetime pension. Dad was part of The Greatest Generation, & he was my hero. I miss him every day. -------------------MJL, 76 y/o
The bypass of Mindinao meant that the horrific Japanese prison camp called Cabanatuan where thousands of Allied prisoners died of starvation, disease and Japanese cruelty would continue in existence and many more would die. An American Lt. Col., Austin Shofner, one of ten escapees from there brought the attention of the American hierarchy to the situation, which led to the "Great Raid," the operation to rescue the prisoners there in January 1945. MacArthur and his staff had for several years refused to work with the Philippine guerrillas before Shofner's report. Once MacArthur's representatives made contact with the Filipinos they learned that the Japanese would have killed the prisoners and eliminated all evidence of Cabanatuan as soon as the Americans invaded Mindinao.
42:45 Combustible, Vulnerable, Expendable.
CVE USS Santee escort carrier. Way to go Dad
My dad was the commander of a torpedo bomber squadron in he Battle Off Samar. He never spoke about it.
thank you for posting on youtube i've never seen this series before and was researching Leyte Island as this is one of many places my grandpa fought ....
They tried and tried to get MacArthur off the Astoria so the ship could be used as a fighting unit, rather than an army general's personal yacht but Marshall Mac would not be moved.
Say what you like about MacArthur; and much of it is true; he was not a coward and would have approved of using the ship as a combat unit with him on it. He would then tout his own valor.
Incredible narrator & film clips
ya incredibly stupid. can't even pronounce names correctly.
This is what a documentary should be, pure doc.
One of my favourites to fall asleep. After i heard it few tomes awake
imagine if the old days had cameras like DSLRs today
I used to watch this so much on tv in the past, I miss the old documentaries that actually had content.
Discovery channel / National Geographic have simply changed in social drama shows.
My mom grew up near Batan during WW2. Her family would tell me stories about aircraft crashing into their villages. Nuts...
Outstanding.
My father was a wildcat pilot on the carrier Savo Island , he said they were even dropping wing tanks of gas on the battleships
Every little bit helps.
I bet they fired a barrage of curse words at them too.
Salute to ur dad
I do so love to hear these oral accounts that would be lost to posterity if it were not for people like you. My thanks, and my reverence for your father, one of the many of the Greatest Generation! Respect...
@@Inquisitor6321 Love it!
Watching Halsey take the bait makes me sick. I served in a Marine Airwing and I can tell you that estimates of battle damage, planes lost or ships sunk is ALWAYS overestimated. For example, 2 planes can encounter the same enemy plane and both will take credit for the kill. They are not trying to lie it is just the confusion of the battle. An Independent battle assessment is always needed when practical. The same goes for ground encounters. Until you've been in a pitched battle it is difficult sometimes to understand how these errors can occur but Halsey had information about the Japanese change of course but his ego got in the way. Admiral Oldendorf saved MacArthur's ass and Halsey's career.
Well because of the American material superiority and human capital superiority and they were able to win despite her blunders
Excellent. Thank you for posting.
So cool to see Japanese footage. Thank-you for posting this!
Watching TV shows that had the film footage like this has is why today at age 70 I am a firm American Patriot. Victory at Sea was my favorite as it was broadcast for many years and was very similar in presentation to this film. -Peter
P.S. Please do not ever allow the sacrifices made in WII to have been made in vein. Do not allow socialism to prosper in America. It is now 2020 and many well meaning young people who are very idealistic want to live in a dream world. Films such as this one need to be broadcast often as an education. Freedom is not Free it must be fought for to be preserved.
Well written Peterdad, hopefully the next generations will keep learning from history. As a father of 3 , i always try to teach them about the importance of History.
My father, a machine gunner, fought in and barely survived from Anzio through Italy but died so young from cancer, and I never got those talks with him I so anticipated, and the trip to Italy, just he and I. He did go back in the seventies as he wanted to see it after it had recovered from its wartime damages. I read WWII history and history from WWI almost exclusively, though I do read for pleasure as well. There are far too many books and I’ll never get through enough of them in my lifetime. I miss my father so much. He was made of steel, I always thought. All those young men, so many like my father who were really just boys, all were men of steel. Heroes all. God bless all our fighting men.
Really proud of you for uploading this. Good job!
Such a great documentary. Funny how it was the largest neval engagement ever yet if you were to bring it up in a conversation regarding history 99% of the public would be baffled
Probablyt because even if the Japanese had succeeded in inflicting major casualties and possibly defeating the landings at Leyte Gulf it would not have altered the eventual course of the Pacific War, Japan was already defeated, just not subdued. Midway was more significant in changing the course of the war, an American defeat at Midway would at the least have extended the Pacific war by 3 to 4 years.
Thank God for USA Industrial Might and People.
And Allied troops with us.
Thanks for the documentary. The planning of the battle is fantastic between the two more powerful fleets on the Pacific Ocean .The liberty returned to Philippines again. Farewell.
An advantage British carriers had over American carriers was their 4" thick steel flight decks, which made them more or less impervious to Japanese bombs. A disadvantage the British carriers had was their ability to be refueled. American carriers had several refueling points, while British carriers had only one. This meant that a fleet contaning British carriers must slow down most of a day to refuel rather than several hours. This extra time equated to considerably more danger from submarines and aircraft. So everybody's carriers had points for and against. After Germany's surrender, when British carriers showed up in the Pacific looking for a fight the American command structure sent them to isolated areas so they didn't slow down the American fleets, not because of any prejudice on their part..
HMS Illustrious was out of the war for almost a year after being bombed by the Germans. Add don't forget the British carriers held almost half the aircraft of the American ships. On the plus side her flight deck was almost impervious to kamikaze attacks, but not bomb proof.
Josh Cammer Hiya Josh-I wouldn't ordinarily post to an old thread like this one, but I tire of hearing about the armor boxes on British carriers. Nice for the crews, but you don't win a naval war with carriers carrying 40 or 50 aircraft. In the Med, maybe not a problem. In the Pacific? Nope. And Illustrious in dockyard hands for a year? Our British cousins may get a stroke*, but there were more than one or two 'lemons' in the RN. Top of my head I'm thinking about the difficulties with the reliability of the KGV-class main battery. And was the Lusty ever properly repaired?
*-I'm rooting against the stroke. We still love you guys over here.
Mike Roby
Our carriers were not intended to fight in this kind of war and were designed for European waters in range of land based planes so their defense was passive and it worked in that environment and given the losses in all the WW2 navy's carrier fleets no one had the 'right model ' !
Matthew Rowe Ah-yup...I follow you, Matt. Since this post there was another drawback discussed elsewhere-they were brutal on the crews in Asian climes.
I've been following a couple of threads on a modeling site on the destruction of Force Z and the hypotheticals had they had a carrier in company. If you're interested lemme know and I'll drop the address for you. Pretty good bunch of fellas over there, some good conversation to be had.
Be well.
ever since the american revolution, talking brit military power is an illusion. they couldn't even beat napoleon without the help of the rest of the world.
As I watch this everything from my Military History class I took came flooding back
In the end it wasn't a lack of planes but a lack of pilots that brought them down. The effort it took to rebuild Kido Butai after Midway was amazing-but it came to naught in the turkey Shoot.
That was an awesome victory for the US Navy.
TODAY:
Japan is sending more than 1200 troops along with 10 warships, 3 planes and 6 helicopters in LEYTE. While the US had also sent thousands of troops, dosen of warships, planes, helicopters in LEYTE. So, why are they, there for? To help the typhoon-ravaged leyte. Now, they both helping together the Filipinos from catastrophe in these places. Really, time changes the attitude of other nations.
Great point, even in the case of two ferocious WW2 enemies ,time heals old wounds.
jamesd2128
Especially when the loser has no choice but to get over it and is rebuilt by
the winner.
Carlo Castillo the Japanese is back on their conquest way and should never be allow any forced
Great explanation, great footage.
All of these wwll documentaries heavily remind me of my Grandad and my GreatGrandad , they were both full-time professional Army officers in the Greek Royal Army. Miss you guys❗