Review: James D. Hornfischer, Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors, 2004

"This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can." Lt. Cdr. Robert W. Copeland, CO USS Samuel B. Roberts 

James Hornfischer's book on the Battle of Leyte Gulf is a modern classic of military history. Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle in history, transpiring October 23-26 1944. It involved most of the Imperial Japanese battle fleet attacking the American invasion forces landing on the island of Leyte in the central Philippines. The result was a decisive American victory. After this battle, the Japanese surface navy was no longer a factor in the war. 

The battle was actually comprised of four separate actions (see map above). Hornfischer does an admirable job describing the strategic background to the battle. General MacArthur would land four divisions on the island of Leyte. His own 7th Fleet would provide firepower support, close air support and amphibious transport of the troops. The far more powerful 3rd Fleet was composed of the Pacific Fleet's new large aircraft carriers and battleships. It as under the command of Admiral Bill Halsey who reported to Admiral Nimitz in Honolulu. This divided command structure led to near disaster off the island of Samar. 

USS Hoel DD-533

Admiral Halsey's mission was to "cover and support" MacArthur's landings. However, Nimitz added a confusing provision to the orders, "In case opportunity for destruction of major portion of the enemy fleet is offered or can be created, such destruction becomes the primary task" (pg. 97, emphasis added). This order was a major blunder on Nimitz's part. When the Japanese carriers (being used as bait) materialized, Halsey moved north to the attack. He left the path clear for the Japanese surface fleet of four battleships and six heavy cruisers to Leyte Gulf and MacArthur's exposed transports. 

Thus the "battle of Bull's Run" was set-up between that most powerful naval surface force the Japanese had ever sent to sea (including the massive Yamato) and something called "Taffy 3." It is the "tin can" sailors (and flyers) of Taffy 3 that are the focus of Hornfischer's narrative. Taffy 3 was a small American task force made up of six "baby flat top" escort carriers with a screen of three destroyers and four destroyer escorts. The escort carriers were not designed for fleet actions. They were small vessels built from merchant hulls. Each carried around twenty-four aircraft divided between Wildcat fighters and Avenger bombers. Their mission was to provide the ground troops with air support and anti-submarine patrols for the invasion fleet. 

USS Gambier Bay CVE 73

"Tin can" is a nickname for destroyers. World War II destroyers packed a lot of punch with the torpedoes they carried. But, they didn't have much in the way of armor protection, hence "tin can." A solid hit from an enemy cruiser or battleship was usual sufficient to seriously damage or sink a destroyer. 

At around 0645 hours on 25 October the look outs of Taffy 3 observed the Japanese battle fleet bearing down upon them at a distance of twenty-five miles. Taffy 3's commanding officer Admiral Clifton Sprague had little recourse except to run to the south. He ordered all aircraft on his six carriers to immediately launch with whatever weapons were already loaded and to attack the Japanese fleet. He then ordered his destroyer screen to make a torpedo attack upon the fast approaching battleships and heavy cruisers. The "tin cans" responded with alacrity. They made several hits on the enemy fleet. More importantly, they gained time for the CVEs to move south and their aircraft to begin their attacks. 

There were many heroes that day on the American destroyers and baby flat tops. The escorts USS Hoel, USS Johnston and USS Samuel B. Roberts were all sunk with large loss of life. The escort carrier USS Gambier Bay was sunk by Japanese naval gunfire. Escort carrier USS St. Lo had the distinction of being the first American ship sunk by kamikazes. 

The determination and courage of the American sailors and airmen that day are exemplified by Gunner's Mate Paul H. Carr. He was captain of the Robert's aft 5 inch gun. As Hornfischer relates, 

Most of the men inside [of the gun mount] had been obliterated by the blast. They had gotten off 324 rounds of the 325 the ship carried in its after magazine, firing the last seven or eight shells without a working gas ejection line to clear the breech, until one of the final rounds got them. 

Looking around [Chalmer] Goheen discovered where the magazine's last round was. It was right there before him, cradled in the arms of Paul Carr himself. The man was alive - though barely, torn from his neck to his groin. Carr was struggling to hold the shell. He begged Goheen to help him load it into the wrecked breech tray. Goheen took the shell from Carr's arms and laid the gunner's mate on the floor of his mount. 

Paul Henry Carr of Checotah, Oklahoma, proud member of the Future Farmers of America, football and baseball letterman, brother of eight sisters, only son of Thomas and Minnie Mai Carr, died there on the deck of his battered, broken warship. (pp. 331-332)

The book is filled with such vivid, moving writing based on many interviews with the battle's survivors. Read it to learn of the price of freedom and independence. Read it to observe the mighty efforts of men. We'll not see their like again.