Battle of the Sibuyan Sea

E54244

World War II battle naval battle

The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea was a major World War II naval air engagement in October 1944, in which U.S. carrier aircraft repeatedly attacked and ultimately sank the Japanese battleship Musashi while attempting to thwart Japan’s Center Force during the Leyte Gulf campaign.

Statements (47)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	World War II battle → naval battle →
aircraftRole	primary offensive weapon against Japanese surface ships →
belligerent	Empire of Japan → United States →
campaign	Philippines campaign (1944–1945) →
commander	Takeo Kurita → William F. Halsey Jr. →
conflict	World War II →
countryInvolved	Japan → United States →
date	24 October 1944 →
endDate	24 October 1944 →
followedBy	Battle of Cape Engaño → Battle off Samar →
JapaneseForceComponent	Center Force →
JapaneseForceName	First Striking Force →
JapaneseObjective	to attack and destroy U.S. invasion shipping in Leyte Gulf →
location	Philippines → Sibuyan Sea →
MusashiFate	sank in the Sibuyan Sea →
MusashiHitCountApprox	over 20 torpedo hits and numerous bomb hits →
notableShipDamaged	Japanese battleship Nagato → Japanese battleship Yamato → Japanese heavy cruiser Myōkō → Japanese heavy cruiser Tone →
notableShipSunk	Japanese battleship Musashi →
objective	to stop Japanese Center Force from attacking U.S. invasion fleet at Leyte →
opposingForce	Japanese Center Force →
partOf	Battle of Leyte Gulf NERFINISHED →
partOfOperation	Leyte Gulf campaign NERFINISHED →
precededBy	U.S. landings on Leyte →
primaryJapaneseShipType	battleship → destroyer → heavy cruiser →
primaryU.S.Weapon	carrier-based aircraft →
result	sinking of Japanese battleship Musashi → tactical U.S. victory →
startDate	24 October 1944 →
strategicContext	U.S. invasion of Leyte →
strategicEffect	reduction of Japanese battleship strength → temporary withdrawal of Japanese Center Force through San Bernardino Strait →
theater	Pacific Theater of World War II →
U.S.AirGroup	Task Force 38 →
U.S.FlagshipType	aircraft carrier →
U.S.Objective	to prevent Japanese surface forces from reaching Leyte Gulf →
U.S.TaskForceCommander	Marc A. Mitscher →

Referenced by (5)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Second Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy) →	engagedInBattle
Musashi →	engagement
Battle of Leyte Gulf →	hasPart
First Fleet →	notableEngagement
Takeo Kurita →	participatedIn