Fullbore Friday
the battle that sealed the deal
The Battle of Leyte Gulf, 23–26 October 1944.
The world's largest naval battle. Every type of action, night and day, for days, from air-to-air to battleship action.
No one did it better than OG The History Channel in taking the time to put the battle in to context. Get a cup of coffee. 54 minutes of excellence…and a hell of a ride.
Don’t think you know all the details…even if you’re a geek like me.
I’ve always known about dye markers for marking surface fires, but did you know about the AA dye markers?
My grandfather was chief fire control officer aboard the Ross. By her history, one of the most highly decorated DDs of WWII. She hit two mines there and was abandoned at 27° of list but was still afloat at dawn.
Towed to a floating drydock, it was sunk by kamikazes in the dock but recovered.
Being towed to San Diego for full repair and hedgehog retrofit, she was torpedoed and cut loose but refused to sink. She went on to see service in Korea as well.
Battle at Samar!
They deserve a Tennyson!
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!