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the various books on the Pacific War I've been reading, there seems to be an indication that if Kurita Takeo had not withdrawn and pushed towards the original objective of attack the American landings at Leyte, it would have been a major setback for the American forces.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