The Japanese Plan

The disaster during early October caused the Japanese to change their plans of fighting another Naval air battle. They would now send the remaining planeless carriers out to lure Task Force 38 away from the invasion beaches. After that was achieved the remaining Japanese surface ships would attack the U.S. invasion fleet repeling the invasion. It would be suicide mission with little chance of it succeeding.

Four groups of ships would converge around the U.S. landing areas and destroy the invasion attempt

Operation "Sho Go"(Victory)

Northern Group from Japan

Commanded by Adm. Ozawa

2 Battleship Carriers
1 Heavy Carrier
3 Escort Carriers
3 Cruisers
8 Destroyers

The Bait It would be this groups job to lure away the U.S. carriers supporting the invasion away from the landing beaches so the other Japanese ships could attack the invasion ships of Task Force 34

Force "A" from Singapore

Commanded by Adm. Kurita

5 Battleships including Yamato and Musashi the largest battleships in the world both over 72,000 tons.
Yamato ship class history

battleships of Japan, from ILN 1941/10/25
10 Heavy Cruisers
2 Light Cruisers
15 Destroyers

They would advance through San Bernadino Strait between Samar and Luzon meet Force "C" in Leyte Gulf

Force "C" from Singapore

Commanded by Adm. Nishimura

2 Battleships
1 Cruiser
4 Destroyers

Force "C" would sail through the Surigao Strait between Leyte and Mindanao

They would later meet Force "A" and attack the U.S. invasion fleet

Southern Group from Formosa

Commanded by Adm. Shima

1 Light Cruiser
4 Destroyers

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