<P> Sho - 1 called for V. Adm. Jisaburō Ozawa's force to use an apparently vulnerable carrier force to lure the US 3rd Fleet away from Leyte and remove air cover from the Allied landing forces, which would then be attacked from the west by three Japanese forces: V. Adm. Takeo Kurita's force would enter Leyte Gulf and attack the landing forces; R. Adm. Shōji Nishimura's force and V. Adm. Kiyohide Shima's force would act as mobile strike forces . The plan was likely to result in the destruction of one or more of the Japanese forces, but Toyoda justified it by saying that there would be no sense in saving the fleet and losing the Philippines . </P> <P> Kurita's "Center Force" consisted of five battleships, 12 cruisers and 13 destroyers . It included the two largest battleships ever built: Yamato and Musashi . As they passed Palawan Island after midnight on 23 October the force was spotted, and US submarines sank two cruisers . On 24 October, as Kurita's force entered the Sibuyan Sea, USS Intrepid and USS Cabot launched 260 planes, which scored hits on several ships . A second wave of planes scored many direct hits on Musashi . A third wave, from USS Enterprise and USS Franklin hit Musashi with 11 bombs and eight torpedoes . Kurita retreated but in the evening turned around to head for San Bernardino Strait . Musashi sank at about 19: 30 . </P> <P> Meanwhile, V. Adm. Onishi Takijiro had directed his First Air Fleet, 80 land - based planes, against US carriers, whose planes were attacking airfields on Luzon . The carrier USS Princeton was hit by an armor - piercing bomb and suffered a major explosion which killed 108 crew (out of 1,569) and 233 on the cruiser USS Birmingham which was fire - fighting alongside . Princeton sank, and Birmingham was forced to retire . </P> <P> Nishimura's force consisted of two battleships, one cruiser and four destroyers . Because they were observing radio silence, Nishimura was unable to synchronize with Shima and Kurita . Nishimura and Shima had failed to even coordinate their plans before the attacks--they were long - time rivals and neither wished to have anything to do with the other . When he entered the narrow Surigao Strait at about 02: 00, Shima was 22 miles (40 km) behind him, and Kurita was still in the Sibuyan Sea, several hours from the beaches at Leyte . As they passed Panaon Island, Nishimura's force ran into a trap set for them by the US - Australian 7th Fleet Support Force . R. Adm. Jesse Oldendorf had six battleships, four heavy cruisers, four light cruisers, 29 destroyers and 39 PT boats . To pass the strait and reach the landings, Nishimura had to run the gauntlet . At about 03: 00 the Japanese battleship Fusō and three destroyers were hit by torpedoes and Fusō broke in two . At 03: 50 the US battleships opened fire . Radar fire control meant they could hit targets from a much greater distance than the Japanese . The battleship Yamashiro, a cruiser and a destroyer were crippled by 16 - inch (406 mm) shells; Yamashiro sank at 04: 19 . Only one of Nishimura's force of seven ships survived the engagement . At 04: 25 Shima's force of two cruisers and eight destroyers reached the battle . Seeing Fusō and believing her to be the wrecks of two battleships, Shima ordered a retreat, ending the last battleship - vs - battleship action in history . </P>

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