WI: Spruance more aggressive

WI Spruance had been more aggressive at the Marianas battle and chased the remaining carriers and sunk them all?
 

Bearcat

Banned
Since they had no naval air arm left worth considering, it makes less difference than one might think.

Leyte Gulf ends with Yamato and the BBs sunk, as there is no credible decoy force to lure Halsey north. So a few US DEs and CVEs don't take a pounding from Kurita's BBs, but others do face the first Kamikazes.

Either way, at Leyte and in subsequent weeks as H.P. Wilmott discussed in his recent book on LG, the IJN is emasculated and ceases to be a consideration. The Kamikazes become the only thing slowing the advance of the US Pacific Fleet.

WW2 still ends as OTL, in mid-August, after Manchuria and the bombs.
 
Do we witness Halsey allowing Yamato to come into range of Iowas guns while every aircraft of the fleet is cirkling overhead just waiting for orders to attack after Iowa is allowed to shoot at Yamato atleast once?

Northen arm of the japanese is steaming south oblivious to the carnage that was the southern arm while more and more US airplanes appear overhead.

"Why dont they attack us?" Kurita to his aid

"They are affraid of our antiaircraftbatterys"

Suddenly their radaroperator speaks out. "Many many warships ahead"

Onboard his flagship Halsey smiles

"So here are the orders, now we finish the ENTIRE japanese fleet. As soon as all our battleships have shot once at one of their battleships, dont matter wich one it is ALL our aircrafts will strike. Destroyers in front, charge their destroyers. EVERY other ship, attack at random."

Onboard the Yamato Kurita had the ships prepare for battle

"Now we show the courage of the japanese people. FOR THE EMPEROR!"

The japanese ships came into range of the americans.

Onboard Iowa Halsey got the word

"Well, what do you waitng on, Santa Claus? FIRE"

A massive volley was fired from 6 battleships. 4 aimed at Yamato and scored hits with some damage. The destroyer leaped into action and steamed ahead at full speed while the cruisers tried to fire at targets

A few seconds after the volley had landed the airpower showed their power. Hundreds of US planes attacked.

One hour later the japanese task force wasnt more than a smoking heap of rubble.
 
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