"The battle of Leyte Gulf was the greatest naval battle in modern history. This book is a detailed and comprehensive account of the fighting from both sides on 24-25 October 1944. It provides the context of the battle, most obviously in terms of Japanese calculations and the search for "a fitting place to die" and "the chance to bloom as flowers of death, " as well as a comprehensive discussion of the events leading up to and following the battle."

Includes maps of: U.S. Advances Across the Pacific, SEP-OCT 1944; Western and Southwest Pacific: American Approach to Contact; Western and Southwest Pacific: The Japanese Response; U.S. Air Attacks on the Kurita Fleet in the Sibuyan Sea, 24 OCT 1944; Surigao Strait Action; Action off Samar, 25 OCT 1944; Action off Cape Engano, 25 OCT 1944; American Carrier Operations After the Battle, 27 OCT-11 NOV 1944; American Carrier Operations After the Battle, 12-27 NOV 1944.

The nature of war and of victory -- The option of difficulties: the American situation in the aftermath of the victory in the Philippine Sea -- The search for solutions: The Japanese situation in the aftermath of defeat in the Philippine Sea -- Preliminaries, 6-18 October 1944 -- Advance and contact, 18-24 October 1944 -- The great day of wrath, 25 October 1944 -- The naval battle for the Philippines: the postscript, 26 October-30 November 1944 -- To pause and consider: blame, responsibility, and the verdict of history.