WI: The IJN Taiho survives

In the June 19 1944, the IJN Taiho, the newest aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, is struck by a torpedo from the submarine USS Albacore. Thanks to elevator pits placed below the waterline, a chain of events followed that resulted in Taiho blowing up in flames, with only around 500 of her crew, including Admiral Ozawa and a portrait of the Emperor, escaping the burning wreck.

What if however the Taiho somehow survives the 19th of June (either the Albacore completely missed or the flames are somehow curbed in time) and leaves the Battle of the Philippine Sea somewhat intact and lasts up until Leyte gulf and Okinawa?

How much would the Taiho contribute in the final months of 1944-1945?
 
It would make no difference at all. The Battle of the Philippine Sea was the death knell of Japanese naval aviation. With no pilots to fly their planes, the carriers were just big harmless targets, fit only for decoy work as they did at Leyte Gulf.
 
Lets make this more interesting. Certainly butterflies are possible.

So Taiho survives and is repaired. With another new large carrier in Northern force (largely aircraft less) in Leyte gulf to supplement the decoy, the Japanese could pull off Zuiho and a small complement of aircraft to put with center force for anti submarine work. It would certainly be a target for air strikes, so ....

maybe Zuiho is sunk but a couple of extra cruisers survive in Center Force to take on the American CVEs at Leyte, the Japanese press the attack longer and inflict more damage. (Best case Japanese, the American build up on Leyte gets delayed a bit, 1 month maximum though)

OR

a little stronger Kurita never does the 45 minute retire, Task force 34 doesn't go after the northern force, and meets Center force and the Americans destroy pretty much the entire Japanese surface fleet right then.

OR
the Japanese linger too long off of Leyte after picking on the CVEs and DEs longer and get destroyed by task force 34 later.
 
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