Battle of Leyte Gulf

Battle context

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle of World War II and by some criteria the largest naval battle in history, with over 200,000 naval personnel involved. The engagement brought together multiple U.S. and Japanese fleet commands across interconnected actions, pitting forces under Halsey's 3rd Fleet and Kinkaid's 7th Fleet against the Japanese Combined Fleet under Toyoda. The scale of the confrontation reflected the stakes of the Allied landings on Leyte: Japan committed its remaining major naval strength in an attempt to destroy the invasion force, while American commanders worked to protect it. With Japanese casualties reported at 12,000 against U.S. losses of 3,000, the battle's outcome registered a decisive shift in naval power in the Pacific theater.