Leyte Gulf 1944: the world's greatest sea battle - 163

Leyte Gulf was a key victory for the United States during World War II (1939-1945): its scale dwarfed previous sea conflicts and its result created an opportunity for the US forces to invade the Philippines.

Four different battles - Leyte, Samar, Cape Engaño and the Surigao Strait - occurred almost simultaneously as part of a Japanese plan to claim a Trafalgar-style victory over US forces.

Yet they were defeated in the battles on the surface, under the sea and in the air.

This highly-accessible book describes the conflict's interweaving battles and the personalities of the commanders involved in what has been called 'the greatest sea battle of all'.