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 light aircraft carrier Princeton on fire, east of Luzon, on 24 October 1944
Musashi departing Brunei in October 1944 for the Battle of Leyte Gulf
Yamato hit by a bomb near her forward gun turret in the Sibuyan Sea, 24 October 1944
Japanese cruiser Noshiro under attack
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a major naval battle of World War II on 19–20 June 1944 that eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place
Battle of Leyte Gulf
…forces; it contained fewer capital ships (aircraft carriers and battleships) than the Allies had aircraft carriers in the Pacific. After the catastrophic Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, senior Japanese military leaders understood that their remaining naval forces were incapable of achieving a strategic victory against the…
The carrier Zuikaku (center) and two destroyers under attack by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft, 20 June 1944
F6F-3 landing aboard Lexington, flagship of Task Force 58
Fighter aircraft contrails mark the sky over Task Force 58, 19 June 1944
Yokosuka D4Y1 Suisei Model 11 "Judy" dive-bomber of the 652nd Kōkūtai (Air Group) taking off from the aircraft carrier Jun'yō during the Battle of Philippine Sea (19 June 1944). This aircraft was part of Jun'yō's second wave that was launched at 10:30 am on 19 June 1944, which consisted of 9 D4Y1s escorted by 6 A6M5s.