American Forces

Task Group 77.4 (Escort Carrier Group), part of Seventh Fleet
  • RADM T. L. Sprague

Task Unit 77.4.1

"Taffy 1"
  • RADM T. L. Sprague

Carrier Division 22

  • RADM T. L. Sprague
  • Sangamon (CVE-26)
    Commanding officer: CAPT M. E. Browder
    • Escort Air Group 37
      Commanding officer: LCDR S. E. Hindman
      • Fighters
        Commanding officer: LCDR S. E. Hindman
        • 12 x F6F-3
        • 5 x F6F-5
      • Torpedo bombers
        Commanding officer: LCDR P. G. Farley
        • 9 x TBM-1C
  • Suwannee (CVE-27)
    Commanding officer: CAPT W. D. Johnson
    • Escort Air Group 60
      Commanding officer: LCDR H. O. Feilbach
      • Fighters
        Commanding officer: LCDR H. O. Feilbach
        • 22 x F6F-3
      • Torpedo bombers
        Commanding officer: LT W. C. Vincent
        • 9 x TBM-1C
  • Chenago (CVE-28)
    Commanding officer: CAPT G. Van Deurs
    Notes: Departed for Morotai at 1645 on 24 October. Carried "dud" aircraft from the CVEs for transfer ashore. Returned with replacement aircraft after the battle.
    • Escort Air Group 35
      Commanding officer: LCDR F. T. Moore
      • Fighters
        Commanding officer: LCDR F. T. Moore
        • 22 x F6F-3
      • Torpedo bombers
        Commanding officer: LT C. F. Morgan
        • 9 x TBM-1C
  • Santee (CVE-29)
    Commanding officer: CAPT R. E. Blick
    • Escort Air Group 26
      Commanding officer: LCDR H. N. Funk
      • Fighters
        Commanding officer: LCDR H. N. Funk
        • 24 x FM-2
      • Torpedo bombers
        Commanding officer: LCDR T. M. Bennett
        • 6 x TBF-1C
        • 3 x TBM-1C

Carrier Division 28

  • RADM G. R. Henderson
  • Saginaw Bay (CVE-82)
    Commanding officer: CAPT F. C. Sutton
    Notes: Departed for Morotai at 1645 on 24 October. Carried "dud" aircraft from the CVEs for transfer ashore. Returned with replacement aircraft after the battle.
    • VC-78
      Commanding officer: LCDR J. L. Hyde
      • 15 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • Petrof Bay (CVE-80)
    Commanding officer: CAPT J. L. Kane
    • VC-76
      Commanding officer: CDR J. W. McCauley
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 10 x TBM-1C

Screen

  • CAPT I. H. Nunn
  • McCord (DD-534)
    Commanding officer: CDR F. D. Michael
  • Trathen (DD-530)
    Commanding officer: CDR J. R. Millett
  • Hazelwood (DD-531)
    Commanding officer: CDR V. P. Douw
  • Edmonds (DE-406)
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. S. Burrows
    Notes: Departed for Morotai at 1645 on 24 October.
  • Richard S. Bull (DE-402)
    Commanding officer: LCDR A. W. Gardes
  • Richard M. Rowell (DE-403)
    Commanding officer: CDR H. A. Barnard
  • Eversole (DE-404)
    Commanding officer: LCDR G. E. Marix
  • Coolbaugh (DE-217)
    Commanding officer: LCDR S. T. Hotchkiss

Task Unit 77.4.2

"Taffy 2"
  • RADM F. B. Stump

Carrier Division 24

  • RADM F. B. Stump
  • Natoma Bay (CVE-62)
    Commanding officer: CAPT A. K. Morehouse
    • VC-81
      Commanding officer: LCDR R. C. Barnes
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • Manila Bay (CVE-61)
    Commanding officer: CAPT F. Lee
    • VC-80
      Commanding officer: LCDR H. K. Stubbs
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C

Carrier Division 27

  • RADM W. D. Sample
  • Marcus Island (CVE-77)
    Commanding officer: CAPT C. F. Greber
    • VC-11
      Commanding officer: LCDR T. O. Murray
      • 15 x FM-2
      • 11 x TBM-1C
  • Kadashan Bay (CVE-76)
    Commanding officer: CAPT R. N. Hunter
    • VC-20
      Commanding officer: LCDR J. R. Dale
      • 15 x FM-2
      • 11 x TBM-1C
  • Savo Island (CVE-78)
    Commanding officer: CAPT C. E. Ekstrom
    • VC-27
      Commanding officer: LCDR P. W. Jackson
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • Ommaney Bay (CVE-79)
    Commanding officer: CAPT H. L. Young
    • VC-75
      Commanding officer: LT A. W. Smith
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 11 x TBM-1C

Screen

  • CAPT L. K. Reynolds
  • Haggard (DD-555)
    Commanding officer: CDR D. A. Harris
  • Franks (DD-554)
    Commanding officer: CDR D. R. Stephan
  • Hailey (DD-556)
    Commanding officer: CDR P. H. Brady
Escort Division 60
  • CDR T. C. Pifer
  • Richard W. Suesens (DE-342)
    Commanding officer: LCDR R. W. Graham
  • Abercrombie (DE-343)
    Commanding officer: LCDR B. H. Katschinski
  • Oberrender (DE-344)
    Commanding officer: LCDR S. Spencer
    Notes: Departed for Morotai at 1645 on 24 October.
  • LeRay Wilson (DE-414)
    Commanding officer: LCDR M. V. Carson
  • Walter C. Wann (DE-412)
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. W. Stedman

Task Unit 77.4.3

"Taffy 3"
  • RADM C. A. F. Sprague

Carrier Division 25

  • RADM C. A. F. Sprague
  • Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70)
    Commanding officer: CAPT D. P. Johnson
    • VC-68
      Commanding officer: LCDR R. S. Rogers
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • St. Lo (CVE-63)
    Commanding officer: CAPT F. J. McKenna
    • VC-65
      Commanding officer: LCDR R. M. Jones
      • 17 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • White Plains (CVE-66)
    Commanding officer: CAPT D. J. Sullivan
    • VC-4
      Commanding officer: LCDR E. R. Fickenscher
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • Kalinin Bay (CVE-68)
    Commanding officer: CAPT T. B. Williamson
    • VC-3
      Commanding officer: LCDR W. H. Keighley
      • 16 x FM-2
      • 1 x TBF-1C
      • 11 x TBM-1C

Carrier Division 26

  • RADM R. A. Ofstie
  • Kitkun Bay (CVE-71)
    Commanding officer: CAPT J. P. Whitney
    • VC-5
      Commanding officer: CDR R. L. Fowler
      • 14 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C
  • Gambier Bay (CVE-73)
    Commanding officer: CAPT W. R. Vieweg
    • VC-10
      Commanding officer: LCDR E. J. Huxtable
      • 18 x FM-2
      • 12 x TBM-1C

Screen

  • CDR W. D. Thomas
  • Hoel (DD-533)
    Commanding officer: CDR L. S. Kintberger
  • Heerman (DD-532)
    Commanding officer: CDR A. T. Hathaway
  • Johnston (DD-557)
    Commanding officer: CDR E. E. Evans
  • Dennis (DE-405)
    Commanding officer: LCDR S. Hansen
  • John C. Butler (DE-339)
    Commanding officer: LCDR J. E. Pace
  • Raymond (DE-341)
    Commanding officer: LCDR A. F. Beyer
  • Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)
    Commanding officer: LCDR R. W. Copeland

Notes

Ships Designated for Task Force 34

These ships were to form Task Force 34 according to ADM Halsey a message sent 0240 25 October. They were thought by some to be guarding San Bernardino Strait.

  • VADM Lee
Battleships
  • Iowa
  • New Jersey
  • Washington
  • Massachusetts
  • South Dakota
  • Alabama
Cruisers
  • Wichita
  • New Orleans
Light Cruisers
  • Vincennes
  • Miami
  • Biloxi
  • Santa Fe
  • Mobile
Destroyers
  • Clarence K. Bronson
  • Cotton
  • Dortch
  • Healy
  • Porterfield
  • Bagley
  • Patterson

Ships Involved in "Bull's Run"

The run south to San Bernardino Strait
Battleships
  • Iowa
  • New Jersey
Light Cruisers
  • Biloxi
  • Vincennes
  • Miami
Destroyers
  • Owen
  • Miller
  • The Sullivans
  • Tingey
  • Hickox
  • Hunt
  • Marshall
  • Lewis Hancock

Japanese Forces

First Striking Force, part of Center Force

Only ships operating as part of Center Force at 0000 on 25 October 1944 are listed.

  • VADM T. Kurita

Battleship Division 1

  • VADM M. Ugaki
  • BB Yamato
    Commanding officer: RADM N. Morishita
  • BB Nagato
    Commanding officer: RADM Y. Kobe

Battleship Division 3

  • VADM Y. Suzuki
  • BB Kongo
    Commanding officer: RADM T. Shimazaki
  • BB Haruna
    Commanding officer: RADM K. Shigenaga

Cruiser Division 5

  • VADM S. Hashimoto
  • CA Haguro
    Commanding officer: CAPT K. Sugiura
  • CA Chokai
    Commanding officer: CAPT K. Ariga

Cruiser Division 7

  • VADM K. Shiraishi
  • CA Kumano
    Commanding officer: CAPT S. Hitomi
  • CA Suzuya
    Commanding officer: CAPT W. Takahashi
  • CA Tone
    Commanding officer: CAPT H. Mayazumi
  • CA Chikuma
    Commanding officer: CAPT S. Norimitsu

Destroyer Squadron 2

  • RADM M. Hayakawa
  • CL Noshiro
    Commanding officer: CAPT S. Kajiwara
  • DD Shimakaze

Destroyer Division 2

  • CAPT N. Shiraishi
  • DD Hayashimo
  • DD Akishimo

Destroyer Division 31

  • CAPT T. Fukuoka
  • DD Kishinami
  • DD Okinami

Destroyer Division 32

  • CAPT K. Aoki
  • DD Hamanami
  • DD Fujinami

Destroyer Squadron 10

  • RADM S. Kimura
  • CL Yahagi
    Commanding officer: CAPT M. Yoshimura
  • DD Nowake

Destroyer Division 17

  • CAPT T. Tanii
  • DD Urakaze
  • DD Isokaze
  • DD Yukikaze

Sources

  • "History of U.S. Naval Operations in WW II, Vol 12, Leyte" by S. E. Morison
  • "The Little Giants - US CVEs against Japan" by W. T. Y'Blood