Discussion: Kurita Continues (Alternate Battle of Leyte Gulf)

Sumeragi

Banned
Among the various books on the Pacific War I've been reading, there seems to be an indication that if Kurita Takeo had not withdrawn and pushed towards the original objective of attack the American landings at Leyte, it would have been a major setback for the American forces.

Frankly, I've always been more of a IJA person, and while I love the IJN, I can't seem to be able to grasp the implications of Pacific War naval battles as compared to the island fights. So, I would like to ask the following questions:


1. If Kurita had pushed forward, would there have been a chance to give a major blow to the American forces in the Philippines?

2. Could Kurita's Central Force manage to survive after the strike?

3. How much of a setback would the attack on American landings be?

4. Where was MacArthur at the time of the battle?


I would appreciate some deep discussions, so as to understand the strategic implications of an American "defeat" (as in the landings being attacked).


PS: And no, I want something more detailed and non-ASB than that story in "Rising Sun Victorious".
 
Last edited:

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
1. Maybe a blow, but not the sort of dramatic war changer that is sometimes supposed. The Taffy groups had, amongst them, 430 combat aircraft (the Kido Butai used 350 to devastate Pearl Harbor) all of which were driving full on into the Japanese force. The Japanese also had, at most, 5 hours before the fast carrier force returned and blew them to Mars (as was the case IOTL where TF 58 had planes over the Samar site by 13:00). The transports were also far from undefended, the U.S. had better than 50 destroyers minding the 'phibs (that is around 600 torpedoes, and by early 1945 USN torpedoes were the best in the world, including the fabled Long Lance).

2. If Kurita stayed until the fast carrier force came back there would have been an IJN rowboat that made it home. That really wouldn't have mattered in the long run, but the Yamato would have died off Samar.

3. At worst the Leyte Operation is delayed by six-eight weeks weeks, however it would likely be much less than that, probably a week or two. It would have been the end of Halsey's career, maybe MacArthur's as well (although Doug was terrific at shedding blame and in this case it really wouldn't have been his fault). American casualties could have been high, say 4,000-6,000 between extra destroyer crews and troops caught on the water, but that is giving Kurita every possible break. Again the more likely additional losses would be closer to 1,000 men.

4. MacArthur was in the landing area. He was aboard the light cruiser USS Nashville. He actually went ashore late on A Day, well before the beach area was secure (MacArthur, for all his flaws, which were legion, was anything but personally fearful).
 
And there was a pretty strong US surface force that had killed the southern force just sitting around in the south doing nothing. If they had turned north Kurita would have been trapped between them and Halsey
 

Ming777

Monthly Donor
Well, the Yamato would probably go down in a blaze of glory....for a few minutes before the magazines detonate.
 
Top