Battle of Ormoc Bay
(November 11, 1944)

Even after their defeat in the Decisive Battle, Japan still tried to run in reinforcements and supplies down from Manila to Leyte aboard fast warships. Several of these re-supply convoys had been successful, but in this case the Japanese went to the well once too often. This particular operation was conceived as two convoys coming down a day apart. The plan called for the destroyer transports from the first convoy would offload their cargo, then double back to the second convoy and escort it in as well, thus doubling the available anti-aircraft shield. Unfortunately, the Americans threw so many aircraft at the beefed up second force that it made no difference. This battle witnessed the destruction of my all-time favorite destroyer, Shimakaze, proving once again that 40+ knot speed doesn't really matter against 350+ knot attack aircraft.

Battle of Ormoc BayJapanAllied
Starting Forces x7
+ 5 transports, 1 minesweeper, and 1 sub-chaser
x40 (approx.) 		x350 (approx.)
Losses x3 sunk (Shimakaze, Naganami, Hamanami, Wakatsuki)
+ 5 transports sunk, 1 minesweeper sunk
(In addition, two of the three destroyers that escaped were sunk at Manila two days later) 		x? destroyed

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