The Battle of Leyte Gulf: Turning the Tide in the Pacific

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wades ashore during initial landings at Leyte, Philippine Islands accompanied by Sergio Osmena (left). Photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps officer Gaetano Faillace. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3289265

October 22, 2025 – Pasay City, NCR, Philippines

Article by AIMS Museo Maritimo Personnel

The Battle of Leyte Gulf, which fought from October 23 to 26, 1944, stands as the largest naval battle of World War II—and arguably in naval history. The battle happened during the Allied invasion of the island of Leyte, part of General Douglas MacArthur’s plan to take back the Philippines from Japanese Occupation. MacArthur had famously promised, “I shall return,” after being forced to leave the Philippines in 1942. Leyte Gulf was the fulfillment of that promise. MacArthur supported prioritizing the liberation of the Philippines, beginning with an assault on Leyte, followed by Luzon and Mindanao. He believed that the Philippines would be more defensible than Formosa and that retaking the islands would disrupt Japanese maritime supply routes (Hart, 2024).

Musashi departing Brunei in October 1944 for the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Photo by Lieutenant Tobei Shiraishi - U.S. Navy photo NH 63473, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11080714

Spanning several coordinated naval actions—including the battles of the Sibuyan Sea, Surigao Strait, Cape Engaño, and Samar. The Japanese, committing nearly all of their remaining naval strength, aimed to lure and ambush the U.S. Third and Seventh Fleets.

Additionally, Japan introduced large-scale kamikaze plane attacks during this battle, a desperate new tactic that would continue until the end of the war.

A total of 26 Japanese ships were sunk, including three battleships and four carriers—among them was the battleship Musashi. It was during the Sibuyan Sea engagement where it sunk and other Japanese vessels getting damaged (Britannica Editors, 2025). The United States, on the other hand, lost one light carrier (USS Princeton), two escort carriers, two destroyers, and a destroyer escort (Hart, 2024).

Amphibious forces approach Leyte, October 1944. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112600

The Battle of Leyte Gulf stands as a pivotal moment in both naval and Philippine history. Strategically, it marked the decline of Japanese naval power and confirmed the dominance of aircraft carriers and air power in modern maritime warfare. Historically, it signaled the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines, allowing Allied forces to return and reclaim occupied territories. As both a military and symbolic victory, Leyte Gulf played a crucial role in shaping the final phase of World War II in the Pacific.

Another lesson that can be learned from this battle is that, it emphasized the importance of controlling key sea routes and showed that courage and innovative tactics can greatly impact the outcome of major battles and these lessons continue to still guide how navies operate today.

References:

Bradley W. Hart, PhD. (October 25, 2024). The Battle of Leyte Gulf Retrieved October 21, 2025, from https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/battle-leyte-gulf

Britannica Editors (2025, October 16). Battle of Leyte Gulf. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Leyte-Gulf