The Battle consisted of four separate engagements: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño, and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy. United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in South East Asia.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar, from October 23rd - 26th, 1944, between combined US and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy.
