Leyte Gulf: A New History of the World's Largest Sea Battle

A fascinating re-examination of the battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval encounter in history and probably the most decisive naval battle of the entire Pacific War, and one that saw the Imperial Japanese Navy eliminated as an effective fighting force and forced to resort to suicide tactics. Leyte was a huge and complex action, actually consisting of four major battles, each of which are broken down in detail in this book, using original sources. The plans of both sides, and how they dictated the events that followed, are also examined critically. So much of the accepted wisdom of the battle has developed from the many myths that surround it, myths that have become more firmly established over time. In this new study, Pacific War expert Mark Stille examines the key aspects of this complex battle with new and insightful analysis and dismantles the myths surrounding the respective actions and overall performances of the two most important commanders in the battle, and the “lost victory” of the Japanese advance into Leyte Gulf that never happened.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: The Myths of Leyte Gulf Chapter 1: The Road to Leyte Gulf Chapter 2: The Japanese Plan: Another Decisive Battle Chapter 3: Two Navies, Two Different Directions Chapter 4: MacArthur Returns Chapter 5: The Adventure of the Center Force Chapter 6: A Naval Execution: The Battle of Surigao Strait Chapter 7: The Myth of Samar Chapter 8: Kurita's Brave Decision Chapter 9: Halsey's Race to the North – Folly or Justified? Chapter 10: The Final Actions Chapter 11: The Reckoning Index

About the Author :
Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. He recently concluded a nearly 40-year career in the intelligence community, including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College.

Review :
This work rises smartly above the massive literature on the Battle of Leyte Gulf with its concise yet very sophisticated narrative and above all analysis.… I can think of no other work that is at once so accessible and so comprehensive in probing the endless complexities of this titanic clash. Incorporating revelations of the latest published works and nautical archaeology, this is the most up to date and likely to be lasting overall study of the Leyte Gulf actions in one accessible account. Masterful. Mark Stille debunks many of the myths still surrounding history's largest naval battle.… A worthy read for any naval historian. A concise but utterly gripping and revelatory account. While some may have thought the story of Leyte Gulf had been told and the proverbial book closed, Stille presents a fresh perspective of the epic battle, a look that's worthy of praise both for taking on the immense topic to begin with and also for the resulting book, which is a triumph. For those interested in the sea battles between the USN and the IJN or decision-making under stress, this is a must-read. For the rest of us, it's a great book about a fascinating element of the Pacific War. A worthy addition to any bookshelf. Pacific War expert Mark E. Stille brings fresh, insightful analysis to key aspects of the battle, dismantling misconceptions around the actions and performances of its two most important commanders - Halsey and Kurita.