Victory At Sea - The Battle For Leyte Gulf - Episode 19

The Japanese fleet is disintegrating, and the Imperial Navy conducts its last major operation in the Philippines Islands. It ends with debacle: The risen battleships of Pearl Harbor avenge the attack in Surigao Strait, the Center Force is defeated in Sibuyan Sea, the jeep carriers and destroyers fend off a stronger Japanese force near Samar and the remaining Japanese aircraft carriers are sunk. This Victory at Sea segment marked the near inevitability that the Japanese would accept defeat and surrender to the Allies.

[@anthonyburzynski9647]

In thier younger years they suffered through the Great Depression. Then they endured the carnage and horror of a world war and saved this Country from absolute tyranny. After the war they built these United States into the greatest economic power the world has ever seen. We should all be eternally grateful to "The Greatest Generation."

[@alitlweird]

And all so their grandchildren and great grandchildren could end up living under a tyrannical one world government. 😕

[@kurtisengle6256]

Actually, we had the only industrial base that hadn't been bombed flat. If you wanted something, you alomst HAD to get it from us. That changed. And Trump is promising you he will bring it back. That is, the promise is we will win his war. And bomb everyone else flat.

[@chloehennessey6813]

@@kurtisengle6256 What’s the alternative? Skyrocketing prices on everything? Passing huge bills we can’t possible pay for. Printing money like it’s going out of style? Mandating things you don’t have the authority to do? Didn’t some folks call Trump a dictator for doing 1/8th of the executive orders Biden has?

[@AmericanIdiot7659]

@@kurtisengle6256 You people always have to bring politics into random shit. Just stfu and enjoy the documentary and stop being so annoying.

[@mastro4886]

@@chloehennessey6813 the alternative isn’t an orange fascist if that’s what’s your angling towards.

[@motogp001]

When I was young I watched Victory at Sea with my Dad. I also remember watching World at War with him. My Dad fought in Europe as part of an Artillery Unit fighting across France and into Germany. Victory at Sea was my favorite I must admit. It made a big enough impression on me that I enlisted in the Navy in 1978 as an Aviation Electronics Mate. Victory at Sea brings back fond memories. Thinking of you Dad.

[@garyrunnalls7714]

Every sailor on taffy 3 should be awarded the Medal of Honor.

[@chuck1284]

My Dad was a gunner's mate on one of the transport ships off-loading supplies on the beach to support the landings. Watching this episode and the heroic battle off Samar always chokes me up, those guys gave their lives and futures for my Pop and a thousand other guys at a moment when they knew it really mattered. God bless them all, and may they rest well knowing their courage and sacrifice turned the tide in the Pacific, helping to end the war.

[@unclezeb7150]

My Dad was on LST 700. They were hit by Kamakazi which killed three of the crew.

[@gregbalint4837]

RIP,JAMES HORNFISHER!!! Your book" The Last of the Tin Can Sailors ", brought the letye gulf to my front room. God bless the brave souls of the USS SAMUEL B ROBERT & THE USS JOHNSTON, the truly last of the tin can sailors!!! May you rest peacefully at the bottom of the sea!!! We will never forget you!!!

[@melvinbrantley8548]

During this battle, I was a fighter pilot assigned to Fighting 14 aboard Wasp. My duties were always CAP (Combat Air Patrol) to defend the force from air attack. What we did not know was that the Japanese fighter force had been destroyed in the Battle of the Philiippine Sea. Most of my activity was at 30.000' to defend from ememy air attack.

[@leananshae]

You're a living hero! Thank you for putting your life on the line to preserve our freedom and the democracy of our great country.

[@karend6197]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@ronauvil5118]

Mr Brantley, one of my friends is america's foremost author on WW2 carrier aviation and I know he would like to interview you, please email me at [e-mail] and I will put you two in touch. This is no hoax, Regards, Ron Auvil

[@greenseaships]

Not enough 'food' for all those Hellcats, huh?

[@al_voci]

God bless you sir for defending the United States. You are my hero. My grandpa was in the 6th in Europe in the Army and my other grandpa was in the Navy in the Pacific. Both returned home, most of their friends did not. My neighbors had Gold Stars in the windows. Our local VFW posts here in South Brooklyn have all photos from the war. I wish more of us would get off their behinds and honor all those who served; not just on Flag Day, Memorial or Veteran's Day - but every day. There are some of us here that do not forget and go to the VA hospital at Poly Place and 23rd Street. I will always be grateful and will always honor and respect those that fought for our country.

[@triciaanddennisb9548]

My father landed Leyte on Red Beach, 3 hours before MacArthur walked ashore and said People of the Philippines, I Have Returned. He was my Hero, God bless you Dad.

[@theadventuresofjavier8698]

The real hero for sure.

[@JR-jw3px]

My Dad landed on White Beach - 1st Cav. He told me the guys on Red Beach had it tough. 1st Cav moved straight on to take Tacloban airfield. Dad said they were plagued by snipers all the way. I still have some of his handwritten notes. Terrible. Remember there were and estimated 21,000 Ja[anese troops in the Leyte Samar area.

[@jimreily7538]

​@@JR-jw3pxOh man, what I wouldn't give to see those notes. Or read them transcribed. Would you be willing to share them? I am a historian working on a book about pacific naval operations, with a focus on the merchant sailers but an emphasis too on the troops who relied on the Pacific merchant mariners for their logistical support.

[@JR-jw3px]

We can do that. Dad would never allow fruit cocktail in our house. He said for three weeks in the Philippines all they had to eat was GI fruit cocktail. @@jimreily7538

[@bertcanepa5651]

Will never forget the Battle for Leyte Gulf....our young neighbor son, an idol for we youngsters of the neighborhood; a really neat artist (drawing for us such "idols" of the day as Superman) was killed. After 4 horrid years all over the Pacific in the Army Engineers he was to have his first leave.....after that battle..Never to be. He was killed. Rest In Peace Albert Rey. I will never forget you.

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

Hey Bert...Army Engineers Special Brigade Amphibious... Island Hopper Pop was one...those guys had it rough...Dad did almost 4 years and never got leave to come back to the states...and stayed on longer than most ... Those men are a different breed .. Ran into one a year ago at a Dollar Tree... yup!

[@robertguttman1487]

My father was at the Battle off Samar, on board the escort carrier Fanshaw Bay. This documentary does not mention how close Admiral Halsey actually came to losing this battle, and how close he came to being fired. Between his abandonment of the Leyte beach head to pursue the empty aircraft carriers of the Japanese northern force, leaving the beach head to be defended only by a handful of escort carriers, destroyers and destroyer-escorts, and his subsequent mishandling of the fleet during "Halsey's Typhoon", the only reason Halsey was not relieved of duty was because, at that point of the war, it was considered that it would have been bad publicity for the Navy to have relieved an admiral who was regarded as a prominent national hero. The fact is that the real credit for the victory at the Battle of Leyte Gulf goes neither to Halsey nor Kincaid, but to Clifton Sprague, the commander of "Taffy 3", the small group of small warships which was abandoned by the rest of the U.S. fleet to defend the Leyte beach head against the Japanese fleet.

[@blastulae]

All the flag officers let down the sailors at Leyte. Halsey was suckered away, just as the Japanese expected him to be, given his weaknesses. Kincaid could have saved Taffy 3 by releasing Oldendorf's battle line sooner, and sending more anitship-armed a/c from Taffies 1 and 2. Even CO of Taffy 3, Ziggy Sprague failed his sailors by not searching for and rescuing the survivors of DDs Hoel and Johnston and DE Roberts, when his planes and one surviving DD Heermann and three DEs might have done so. Instead, the heros of DDs Hoel and Johnston and DE Roberts died of exposure and shark attack during 52 hours of needless hell.

[@FL510flyer]

My father was on the Fanshaw Bay, as well !

[@minnowpd]

Commander Evans on the USS Johnston led the attack.

[@MrMenefrego1]

@@blastulae Isn't it amazing how some of us are able to flawlessly fight these battles 80 years hence?

[@blastulae]

@@MrMenefrego1 Except it takes no hindsight to see that Halsey totally screwed the pooch. Mitscher told him that IJN air had already been destroyed. Burke and others wanted at a minimum to detach TF 34 to cover San Bernardino Strait, as Halsey message implied he would do. Night scout planes saw and reported IJN Center Force turning around and steaming through the strait. At the time, his staff and subordinate COs knew he was doing the wrong thing, but Mischer told Burke that there was nothing he could do to change Halsey's mind. To compound the deadly errors, Halsey failed to tell anyone that he hadn't left TF 34 behind. Had he done so, Kincaid might have ordered Oldendorf's BBs north.

[@georgewilliams8448]

I like how Victory at Sea did its best to present an even tone and not be just a series of yeah USA! I am also a huge fan of the music in the series and all the areas covered in the series. Thank you for uploading this series to You Tube!

[@davefellhoelter1343]

RIP Boys! Was an HONOR to have had you in this young boys Life from teachers to uncles and Fathers! Thank You!

[@tedcardin1740]

My dad was on the Darter-the first boat to find the Japanese fleet. One of the few submarines lost during battle without the loss of a single sailor. Good thing or I wouldn't be here.

[@GNSteam-ze8qm]

Well it wasn't lost to combat. They beached the thing on a reef. Lol

[@jamescoleakaericunderwood2503]

@@GNSteam-ze8qm you wouldn't be laughing....if you were there ..

[@clevlandblock]

I saw this series as a kid back in the 50s on our black and white Sears Silvertone TV. This series still comes across just as powerful and dramatic as it did then. Dad was a WW2 USN vet so he made sure I watched it.

[@johnnylyme]

I was 12 years old and I watched every episode- b&w fuzzy TV, it was and still is totally fascinating. I'm now 79 and I watch VAS at least once a year. They were all hero's !!

[@paulmartin6122]

When i was a kid (now 80) I use to hate it if we were late getting home from Church and had missed the start of this.

[@robertyoung5061]

Best time I ever had with my dad was watching the series when it aired in 1952-53. Thanks to whoever posted this old B&W classic, which was the winner of many awards. One of the all-time great theme songs, as well.

[@aucksmix]

Music composed by the great Richard Rodgers.

[@stevemoyer2273]

First LP I ever bought was the soundtrack to this show.

[@rayninness6303]

My brother and I watched Victory at Sea every time it was on! Our Father was a Navy Salvage Diver during the Battle for Leyte Bay! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@alecwilliams7111]

I believe that this was the first great television documentary series, and it is rightfully remembered as a classic. Thanks for running it. I believe copies have been issued on VHS tape and DVD.

[@ArizonaJoeHines]

You're right. This was top prime time entertainment in 1952.

[@Me2Lancer]

A shining hour, retribution for Pearl Harbor where my dad was aboard USS Raleigh CL-7. I'm a proud navy veteran. While enroute Vietnam we past through the San Bernadino Straights, the northern edge of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

[@glennwoodman4693]

I watched this with my dad when I was in high school. He was at Pearl Harbor on the USS Vestal, moored outboard of the Arizona. He was a non-swimmer, and learned to swim when his ship sank. He went on to fight across the Pacific and ended up in occupied Japan.

[@agoodchristianpilot159]

every time I hear that opening music I get chills!

[@sixstringlove8242]

I cannot believe I found this! I used to love these shows! When I was a kid, the Saturday afternoon/evening line up was as follows: first came Gilligan's Island at three o'clock, then Baa Baa Black Sheep, then The Rat Patrol, then MASH, then Hee Haw, then Star Trek, then Victory At Sea, then Sha Na Na, and to wrap it up, there was Lawrence Welk. Now how is *THAT* for a lineup? Anyone else remember a similar string? A few may be swapped depending on where you lived. Sitting on my couch with a TV tray, soaking up the best shows ever made. I can also remember standing outside with a pair of Channel Locks slowly rotating the antenna until my dad yelled *OKAY, THAT'S FAR ENOUGH* to get the best picture. Damn, this brings all those memories back. Thank you so much for posting!

[@Unborn-Lives-Matter]

Six String Löve My folks restricted TV but I am quite a bit older than you. I never missed Combat! though. The entire series, five years worth, are here to watch. I thought it went downhill with color TV back then but watching it now it seems fine. But I spent most of my time outside playing soldiers with my friends. We even played it in college! But not often. Switched to playing Risk like others played poker, but just for bragging rights. For one week everyone else was a LOSER! This fresh out of the Air Force in 1974.

[@steveb6103]

We had two TV stations we could get and they played the same programming. Hee Haw , Victory At Sea, then the news. And then they would signoff for the night.

[@howardfortyfive9676]

I grew up in a town w/3 B&W TV stations, towers on a good hill and my house almost line of sight and on top of a hill 12-15M away. COMBAT and 12 O'clock High in evenings. Saturday matinee Bugs Bunny Wiley Coyote for 2bits (.25) from 10AM to 7PM. *Slot car track+WWII Tamiya models whole 9yd. My 50s&60s were TERRIFIC growing up in. Milsurp rifles sold for $19.95 at Hardware stores NO PAPER.* The GOOD OLD DAYS. 1.27.21

[@Rep0007]

Pass on Hee Haw and Welk. Otherwise, nice lineup.

[@aloha11bc26]

Beautiful

[@mikefishhead]

My uncle was on the battleship New Jersey in this action. He was wounded on a 40mm mount. When I was little he was my hero and gave me Richard Roger's complete victory at sea album set. I pretty much wore it out. He retired after 26 years in the navy most spent on no.62 last duty was Portsmouth navy prison as a guard .

[@imthatguy1878]

The castle as we've always called in in Portsmouth was really falling apart, my father retired from the navyyard

[@vincentdeceasare8702]

Thank you! I wish more people would watch these old news reels. It's history that should never be forgotten.

[@jackboyer1280]

Vincent DeCeasare Maybe if everybody remembered how it was maybe just maybe it wouldn't be repeated ever again. Way to much death & destruction for humans to do to others. Of course it's the leaders & politicians that start it all & us commoners are the ones that fight it. Of course we suffer the most too

[@william9987]

Not everyones minds are set in war history. Most people sports, music, reading, cooking, exercise, gardening, religion etc. Only 5% of the world are into war history.

[@vicenteyuchitcho6759]

@@jackboyer1280 p

[@onlythewise1]

@@william9987 every one should be

[@onlythewise1]

@@jackboyer1280 yep way to much killing

[@naomisgram1]

Yes, I also watched this with my Dad who was a Navy veteran and present on the USS Tennessee at the attack of Pearl Harbor.

[@glennwoodman4693]

I also watched this with my dad when I was in high school. He was at Pearl Harbor on the USS Vestal, moored outboard of the Arizona. He was a non-swimmer, and learned to swim when his ship sank. He went on to fight across the Pacific and ended up in occupied Japan.

[@reyquebec1184]

Thank you so much to our greatest and bravest Americans and Allied forces. Truly you are our heroes of all time. Because of you we have freedom and liberty here in the Philippines. We will always respect, love and salute all our beloved heroes. God bless all of you wherever you are now.

[@scratchdog2216]

15:50 Read 'The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors' by James D. Hornfischer. Details the battle off Samar.

[@primarchechs7139]

This book is where I found out my middle school Industrial Arts teacher had been an Avenger gunner on the St. Lo and was on the aircrew that first spotted the IJN center force bearing down on Samar and later stuck a torp into Nagato. We had no idea such a hero was among us.

[@mashpeewee1]

Victory at Sea is a documentary television series about warfare in general during World War II, and naval warfare in particular, as well as the use of industry in warfare. It was originally broadcast by NBC in the USA in 1952-1953. It was condensed into a film in 1954. Excerpts from the music soundtrack, by Richard Rodgers and Robert Russell Bennett, were re-recorded and sold as record albums. The original TV broadcasts comprised 26 half-hour segments-Sunday afternoons at 3pm (EST) in most markets-starting on October 26, 1952 and ending on May 3, 1953. The series, which won an Emmy award in 1954 as "best public affairs program", played an important part in establishing historic "compilation" documentaries as a viable television genre....I remember watching the series as a kid...

[@paladin0654]

It's a pity that this piece didn't credit Jesse Oldendorff, the commander of the 7th. Fleet TF that blocked the Surigao strait. This was the last BB on BB battle in history: he kicked butt. Halsey took the bate. As Capt. Marko Ramius said: "Halsey acted stupidly." Halsey was obsessed with sinking Japanese carriers and didn't factor in the state of enemy naval aviation: carriers without aircraft are useless.

[@ritabrownlee1624]

(David here) Yes! Used to watch it on PBS when I was kid. These should be shown in schools as part of an American history course.

[@tomlytle7899]

By far, the best book on the Taffy 3 the escort carrier & destroyer battle against the the Japanese fleet is "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors". This book is a tribute to those jeep carriers, tin cans, & aircraft who did everything in their power to turn back a superior force which was in range as soo as they were sighted. It also brings into question the sequencing of the last scene of Halsey's fleet, which, had they not been lured away, may have prevented the action. Halsey's reputation was forever tainted by it.

[@unclestone8406]

Read "Last Stand", and can't agree enough. We may never have such a historically mismatched naval engagement like that one again. Sheer guts held off Kurita's Central Force.

[@charlesmoore7349]

I've read it four times and am about to read it again. Anyone who can read what those men did and not weep is made of dark stone.

[@atticustkam]

Excellent book - there are also some good videos on KZbin that cover the battle in much more detail that VAS kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqDWo4Koa892iLM, etc.

[@xavier712]

It also vindicates Spruance’s actions both at Midway and in the Marianas. Halsey chased carriers that weren’t a threat-Spruance understood his primary mission was to protect the beachhead. We were lucky the Japanese broke off the attack, they could have done great damage at Leyte had they not.

[@jameshunter5485]

@@xavier712 I couldn’t agree with you more. Spruance was the best tactical admiral in the Pacific. Kincaid’s action in the Surigao Strait and the furious attack by Taffy 3’s aircraft and escorting vessels saved the day, but Halsey’s “Bull Run” almost set back US actions in the Pacific. No doubt Nimitz reeled him in after that.

[@roybartran6756]

grew up watching VICTORY AT SEA......love it

[@lowellyates6685]

Victory At Sea is the most comprehensive record of WWII. Generations will study WWII using this series.

[@johnshields6852]

Boston born in 1960, these men and this military is why I have complete freedom to speak my mind and live free. WW11 brought our country together like no other time in history, little kids collecting metal to older people buying war bonds, I don't think a country will ever contribute heart and soul to their nation like this era in history.

[@davidgoldin5759]

"And now ... " I grew up watching this as a kid. Leonard Graves had the voice!

[@davidmaccormack7067]

Graves sounds like a kiddy fidler

[@vivians9392]

Me, too. Loved watching it!

[@j3lny425]

Did you ever hear Westbrook van Vorhees. Some name. good narrator

[@greggross8856]

As a kid, this series was my first exposure to powerfully good TV writing. And as a narrator, Leonard Graves was in a class of his own.

[@Moredread25]

I love the narrator of this series. So much gravitas.

[@vincentdeceasare8702]

I am one of the "old guys" you speak of. I served in the Atlantic during that time. Meanwhile, my brother and brother-in-law was on the USS Wisconsin in the Pacific. My comment was made towards the volume of the music overreaching the commentators voice. Have a nice, safe trip home.

[@leananshae]

Yet ANOTHER living hero! Wow! I should hang out on these old news reels more often... just so I can be in the company of such amazing men! Thanks for everything you did for your country. It's still much appreciated!

[@mattm.5436]

Man this opening theme song with the bleak darkness of the old sea footage reminds me of the 90’s. I remember when I was in grade school and then on into high school and Victory at Sea always seemed to be on every other time you flipped the channel. Its got a quaintness to it that I long for and miss now. 38 years old. Class of ‘99.

[@njkinkoid]

I spent some time in the Phillipines during the Vietnam debacle. It was a great place with some wonderful people. Thank God they were, and remain our allies.

[@hammerthor6441]

We gave it to the Philippino people, and now it's communist. Islamic

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

@@hammerthor6441, I too visited P.i. during the Vietnam Fiasco. During my navy and health care career, I also had many Filipino-American co-workers and friends, many of whom were physicians and EXCELENTLY trained nurses. Your political analysis of the Phillipines sounds like it is pure right-wing BS. Calling Filipinos "Islamic" is light-years off the mark. Due to massive missionary efforts during Spanish occupation, they are OVERWHELMINGLY Catholic. Although even more corrupt, the Phillipine constitution, is strictly modelled on the U.S.system and does vaccilate between authoritarian/totalitarian regimes--quite the OPPOSITE of "communist." Before giving your right-wing brainwashed analysis of people of which you know NOTHING, open your eyes and ears to those who might actually know something about it.

[@joshuamiguelparilla5401]

Filipino here from samar leyte and im proud that the americans helped philippines liberated

[@mitchnorton9095]

Thank you. I would watch these when I was a kid. I miss these.

[@billhuber2964]

My dad watched this series when it was on tv back in 50s. My wife got this series on DVD for me for a father's day present. She knows what I like. Like my father before I'm am a navyman. Hooyah !!!!!!

[@johndavis7428]

If not for the brave men of Taffy 3, Halsey would have been remembered very differently

[@garyrunnalls7714]

True

[@kleenk8]

Thank you combat cameramen.

[@kennysherrill6542]

My Mother sat me down in front of our old black an white TV that was a refugee from the Smithsonian and made me watch these shows. I was mesmerized by all the action especially the aircraft crashes on the aircraft carriers. Have been a life long love for aviation and enjoying working on them. Semper Fidelis to all my fellow Veterans and to the Philippine people because if it wasn't for the Sacrifice of so many I wouldn't have met my wife there in the Philippines and wouldn't have three of the greatest children in the world. 👍❤️🇺🇸

[@fatdogtavern]

We Americans love the people of the Philippines! Its great to have you as allies.

[@joebombero1]

There are a lot of Filipinos living in the US and we decided to raise our kids here in the Philippines. We have met a lot of fellow Americans here including three fellow Texans in our own subdivision. The US and Philippines kind of blend together.

[@bethlehem80]

Wow, so this is my place. I live in Leyte.

[@brooklynbummer]

Those destroyers fought the greatest battle in the face of bad odds, yet did their duties without thought. I have followed the Battle of Leyte Gulf in all forms of literature and still amazed at the bravery of those men on those little tin cans.

[@isilder]

You must be referring to the destroyers in the Battle off Samar ....

[@brooklynbummer]

@@isilder Yes, the destroyers in the Battle of Samar. The amount of personal descriptions of the individuals is great. I cannot imagine the terror and destruction these sailors went through plus waiting for days to be rescued.

[@francisbusa1074]

Dad served aboard USS Bimingham (CL-62). He was one of the 408 men wounded when the light carrier Princeton's after magazine blew the after section of the carrier off. Of the 35 or so men he was with in a volunteer firefighting party, he said he believed he was the lone survivor. About 238 men were killed. Dad said the blood covered the decks of Birmingham, and ran out the scuppers into the sea as the ship rolled in the rising sea, necessitating sand to be brought topside and spread on deck for traction. He said you can't imagine the carnage unless you were there with body parts everywhere.

[@dbadpa]

This comment is in response to that of one Sabra S., of 2 years ago. Stating that the force opposing the Japanese in Surigao Strait should have been sufficient had they been armed with the right bombs, is TOTALLY INVALID! The Japanese forces in the Surigao Strait were nearly completely destroyed, and this phase of the battle occurred overnight, without aircraft usage. The battle off Samar was, I believe, what this user was referring to. That the American forces facing the main body of the Japanese attackers were Jeep/Escort carriers, whose sole purpose was ground support and anti-submarine patrols, had these carriers supplied with ordnance appropriate for those roles. They were NOT expected to face, nor attack, major enemy naval surface opposition. In light of that fact, and that their escorting surface ships were only destroyers and destroyer escorts, ships normally used in anti-submarine and anti-aircraft roles, they and their supporting forces of the same types savagely fought to the extent that their enemy thought they faced fleet carriers and heavy cruisers. The courage of these forces, lacking proper armament for the situation they faced, is a testament those who were there. Unless one has studied history well enough to, at least, know one 'battle' situation from another should refrain from comment. Oh, and in this case, one might pay attention to the program as it clearly described that the 'battle in Surigao Strait' was a different phase than that of the 'battle off Samar'. So, if one does not study history, at least they could pay attention to the narration before commenting.

[@melvinbrantley8548]

This battle was significant but the real turning point in this WAR was when we read (HOW GOUCHE) the Japanese mail and stopped them at MIDWAY.

[@bradleyscottburris9280]

+Melvin Brantley Leyte finished the job that Midway almost completed.

[@nancyclausen8454]

gauche?

[@musicalsman66]

@regolo gellini: some home viewers, even in 1952-53, complained that the music was sometimes not far enough "under" the narration. Producer Henry Salomon--who supervised the final mix--knew that this was so, and so he once said "but the music tells the story better than the script does!" (notice how few sound effects there are, by the way). @James Ostmann: actually, Richard Rodgers really only wrote his little "twelve themes" at the piano (the one-minute title music is one of those tunes) for VAS, and Robert Russell Bennett did all the rest, doing all he could to transform Rodgers's tunes to fill out the 26 episodes, but then composing hours and hours of the VAS music himself, in addition to the "arranging" for the NBC Symphony. In this episode, once the title music is over, there's less than 3 minutes of (snippets of) Rodgers tunes--the rest is all pure Bennett. (Wikipedia article is brief, but accurate about this.) If you want to see all of the famous "Guadalcanal March" that *Rodgers* himself wrote, his manuscript is here at the Library of Congress--just a couple bare tunes and a few chord symbols; Bennett did the rest, as he did for most of Rodgers's musicals: www.loc.gov/item/ihas.100010507/

[@sebastien3351]

Thank you for that bit of information

[@AmericanIdiot7659]

I have the whole 2 albums downloaded and listen to them occasionally. The songs alone can summarize what was happening, and I often visualized the scenes in my mind as the they played.

[@rayninness6303]

My Navy Seabee Salvage Diver Father and my Brother and I watched Victory at Sea Episode 19 the Battle for Leyte Bay together Many Times. He was Part of the Envasion Force!! 😍🇺🇸😍🇺🇸

[@leecrt967]

It's impossible for me to not tear up watching this old, but very very good, documentary. "Victory at Sea" reminds me, sadly, of how America rose to greatness to arm and supply our allies, to conquer any enemy. America reached its zenith during the Second World War. I expect no future generation to surpass it. Large portions of the population have been emasculated, forming up in cues to receive government stipends according to your assigned victims category. America is receding into history.

[@joed1901]

Those exhausted young sailors sacked out anywhere they can lay down speaks volumes. Im very grateful for them.

[@LordZontar]

This episode recuts history slightly. The USS Princeton's death agonies occurred the previous day, October 24th, while Takeo Kurita's Centre Force was getting mauled in the Sibuyan Sea. The Princeton was replenishing her ammunition that afternoon when she was attacked and got two bombs onto her sternquarters. Her scouts were searching for Jisaburo Ozawa's Northern Force, ironically finding it at about the same time she was burning. It was after the explosion that blew off the Princeton's stern that Adm. Sherman gave orders to evacuate the survivors and destroy the ship.

[@tennesseeridgerunner5992]

I remember when A&E used to show "Victory AT Sea" daily back in the early 1980s. My how things have changed.

[@TheDustysix]

As a Lad When I'd hear the opening music... And Now.. Devotion to our Country was at hand on the tube.

[@connormclernon26]

I have the music for this series on vinyl

[@foocheehow4795]

I watched every times when I have times never feel bored

[@granskare]

I also watched this series on NBC, every Tuesday :)

[@Aereaux]

I watched the Victory At Sea series when it first aired. A really great series.

[@tombartram6842]

Great soundtrack!

[@carreiromanuel]

Thank you very much

[@JR-jw3px]

My first Crew Chief in the USAF was Ralph E. Natali. Ralph was a PA Coal miner, MM aboard Albert W. Grant DD-649. Grant was part of TG 77.2 sailed from Manus (Admalilty Islands) along with LST White Marsh with my Dad aboard. Dad said there were ships in that harbotr too numerous to count. I believe he said at least six Essex class carriers. Tthey sailed thru a terrible storm en route to Leyte. Ralph told me they lost 33 men on the Grant at night during the Battle of Surigao Strait. According to Ralph some of it was friendy fire from USS Indianapolis. Dad, on Leyte at Tacloban said they only knew something big was going on off shore.

[@kennethcaine3402]

My Father was in the 1st Marine Division, A battery 5th Marines 1st Marine Division. He was a FDC MAN (fire direction control man) the main invasions were Cape Goulester New Britain, Pelielu, and Okinawa and several other small invasions.

[@topgeardel]

Seems to me the Battle of Samar was a real blunder on Halsey's part. So much luck at Coral Sea, Midway and Leyte Gulf. Those battles, and the war itself, could have easily gone in another direction. Total respect to the men of the Battle of Samar. They should not have been put in that position.

[@robertyoung3992]

Battle Off Samar

[@topgeardel]

Admiral Halsey almost pissed away this tremendous battle with his impulsivity. How could he have left the Leyte landings like he did?? Those landings were crucial to the progress of the war. He had enough resources to deal with anything that came his way.

[@barrybernstein9049]

I saw this as a young kid in the fifties .My love of classical music stems from Richard Rogers great music score for the series.

[@Holiday48000]

I remember watching these episodes of Victory At Sea as a young teenager in the 1950's. We were so proud of the Greatest Navy Generation of WWII and I personally felt the patriotic goose bumps of winning the most bloodiest war in history. But the generation of today who are poisoned daily by the liberal elitists would not have the same patriotic duty of that past greatest generation. Better than 70% of the so called collage kids of today do not even know who we fought during WWII and if they were asked to defend this country as their grandfathers did, I doubt we would have been the victors. So Sad.

[@SlugBurpAK]

+John L i stronly disagree, if we were ever attacked by a nation, we'd rise up in huge numbers. The US has a combat force designed around a huge combat engagment, and trying to utilize it against tiny groups. It's hardly the same. 911 rallied the nation to go to war, but there was no real nation to defeat. Oh sure, we removed several goverments from power, but it's not the same. Anyway, name every war the US has been in, and who we fought, hint it's 214, GO

[@Holiday48000]

+Slug Burp (1) Americian Revolution, Adversary - England, (2) War of 1812, Adversary - England (3) American Civil War - Adversary, North versus South, (4) Spanish - American War, Adversary - Spain, (5) WWI, America, England, France, Italy - versus- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Outterman Empire. (6) WWII, America, England, Russia - Versus - Germany, Italy, Japan. (7) Korean War, America Versus North Korea & their proxies China & Russia. (8) Vietnam War, America Versus North Vietnam & their proxies China & Russia. (9) Granada Police Action, America Versus Granada & Their Proxies Cuba & Russia, (10) Panama Police Action America Versus Panama & Their Proxies Cuba. (11) Gulf War 1, America Versus Iraq. (12) Gulf War II, America Versus Iraq. Now, your a "Know - It -All Liberal Elitist", so you can name the rest.

[@connormclernon26]

+John L you forgot a couple. Mexican American War, Adversary - Mexico, Barbary Wars, Adversary - Various Forces including the Eyalet of Tripolitania and Morocco and the Ottoman Empire, Quasi-war, Adversary - France, intervention in Nicaragua, adversaries - Nicaragua, occupation of Phillipines, adversary - Philippine rebels

[@Holiday48000]

+Connor McLernon Thanks for your input, but I am still waiting for Slug Burp to name the other 196 of the original 214 wars he claims we have been in.

[@jamesrather7170]

Don't forget the "Banana Republic" actions of the 1920s and 30s. Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, and the middle East, Lebanon 1958, and 1983. Veracruz 1914, Mexican Revolution 1916.

[@bender7565]

In 1975 @ Great Lakes if we 'behaved' company 936 got to watch a Victory at Sea!!

[@janiemartinez2394]

Hey i got the gardenerali eve yeah.

[@bw3240]

Now I need to dig out my box set and watch the entire series....again

[@michaelmartinez1345]

Awesome Episode!!!

[@brooklynbummer]

I watched Victory at Sea anytime it was ok TV. I see some people blame liberals for every thing from zits and the clap, not true, they just like for everyone else treated decently especially veterans. The Battle Off Sumer had always fascinated me and I am so glad it is so well documented. Those flyers and sailors were brave and did things well beyond brave. Never have so under armed ships against the biggest ships of Japan won a decisive battle.

[@rolandrivera3004]

Thank for film showing up fhe real history of the situation in the Philippines its remind er to view the world scenarios once it happens again ifpresent event of scs unavoidably.

[@ivanleterror9158]

I think it was on our first Muntz TV I watched these episodes.

[@home2039]

Thank you SIR!!!!

[@justforever96]

Am I the only one who thinks Japanese battleships and cruisers just look really cool? Maybe it's those pagoda superstructures. And then you have all the interesting layouts, with turrets in the middle of the ship, or sometimes three (or four!) forward turrets, or SIX four gun turrets like the old _Fuso_ class. I know other navies had some interesting ships ( _Rodney_ class for example), but the Japanese ships were almost all graceful and/or interesting. And not the kind of "interesting" that their tanks were! Their aircraft are similar, they all have a certain organic yet attractive look that sets them apart from other nation's stuff.

[@blusnuby2]

And how `bout those RAKED smoke stacks !

[@tommythompsonsurfer]

GOD BLESS ERNEST EVENS....... AND ALL THAT ATTACKED THAT DAY...DAMN GOD BLESS AMERICA.........THESE ARE THE REAL HEROS OF AMERICA!!!!

[@janiemartinez2394]

Hi how are you happy birthday mr. President happy birthday to you . Battle

[@janiemartinez2394]

Hello corvid - 19 virus for sure. Covid 19 virus my ass!

[@tikitavi7120]

My dad was there.

[@dano7369]

Gonna listen to this episode while I go play some WoW. :)

[@patrickcalabro8718]

Halsey is from Orange, N.J. Thank You

[@unitedwestand5100]

Halsey fell for the Japanese diversion hook, line, and sinker. if not for the actions of the uss Patterson and 3 other light destroyer's actions we might have lost this battle. At least it would have played out a lot different.

[@ianfindlay865]

+Glen Morris Halsey seems to have been an overrated, impetuous commander. I have never understood why he was not disciplined for his dangerously reckless action.

[@unitedwestand5100]

Ian Findlay You're preaching to the choir. I try not to think he did this as a response to Roosevelt giving the go ahead to MacArthur's plan over the Navy's plan and giving him control of the navy in the battle for the Philippines. A lot of people don't realize that Washington was noticing the high casualty rate of the Marine/Navy tactics compared to the Army/MacArthur's.

[@navblue20]

It was a DIVIDED command......MacArthur controlled KINCAID NOT HALSEY. That was the major problem.. Nimitz controlled Halsey -if any of you read Samuel E, Morison's History of Naval Operations he points that out. Nimitz allowed his Admirals discretion and because of that Halsey took the initiative-that does not excuse the mistakes made but it was not just Halsey-you can blame the ENTIRE chain of command in one way or another for what happened..

[@blusnuby2]

Read SEA OF THUNDER, by Evan Thomas, and learn WHY.

[@tommurphy2332]

But Halsey finished off the last great battleships of the Japanese Navy and many of the smaller cruisers, aircraft carriers and destroyers, assuring that they could never be manned and put into action again. When the US Navy later approached Iwo Jima and Okinawa, they would be absent and Japan had only land-based suicide aircraft flown by inexperienced pilots who would only have one flight before dying.

[@gregknight293]

........My uncle was on board the escort carrier U.S.S. Saint Lo assigned to "Taffy Three" when it was hit by a kamikazi. It sank within one hour and my uncle was among the survivors pulled out of the sea by a destroyer escort.......A good account of the actions of "Taffy Three" can be found in The Battle Off Samar....part of the Leyte Gulf.......He would say very few words about it and I found these stories on KZbin one day before the 75th anniversary of the sinking of his ship.

[@isartam]

@BryanneBriones Yes, every inch.Including the Japanese footage.

[@deanalexander1029]

I love history.

[@MrXhuber]

They were adhering to the concept of kantai kessen, they neglected airpower in favor of bigger naval guns

[@eddyredmond7758]

God bless them. The greatest generation.

[@rustywilliamson7140]

Well and correctly stated.

[@ditzydoo4378]

This program Victory at Sea was a very dramatic television show about the Second World War. It was intended to entertain it's audience. Now then for a completely unbiased factual account of this particular battle I highly suggest Drachinifel's 5-minute guide to warships episode, "The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?": kzbin.info/www/bejne/anLHlKl6nqZmoqc There you will get a rather informative and entertaining view of the battle through history archives and first hand account stories by those who were there. I guarantee it is quit the eye opener and lends to the adage that "Facts are far more telling than certain accounts".

[@joeschlotthauer840]

I think the Johnston and Roberts shipwrecks have since been discovered.

[@MichaelJones-eq4ne]

What is the name of the musical piece at 25:00? I can't find it in the soundtracks.

[@isilder]

The section on Battle of Surigao Straight didn't explain the action well. The PT's were spread out to to ensure they would find the fleet, and they attacked individually so that they weren't just wiped out in group. But they achieved no hits, because they lacked sophisticated torpedo aim computers.... MORE IMPORTANTLY, It skipped the destroyer torpedo attacks, which really did the most damage, and the destroyers did an amazing job, a very excellent performance in the history of naval battles generally. . The first two waves , in a left right pincer movement, neutralised the destroyers and one battle ship and then sent a third and 4th wave of torpedoes that wounded the remaining battleship and its lesser mates ... Yet the Japanese battleship ploughed ahead and of course ran into the shelling.. first the faster but less lethal fire from destroyers and cruisers, and then the battleships ... which meant the Japanese got no hits on American ships... A few Japanese ships survived to flee in the night, but only one escaped daylight aerial attacks.

[@Dra741]

Even during discrimination in this worst Point as a child I knew America was great and it was going to be greater and I have faith in my country because of God and God brought us to where we are not suffering the way we did many years ago oh, and the narrative that these people are pushing, are against the entire country

[@u2mister17]

I am afraid these young people have been led down a dark path of not knowing of our Father in Heaven. It is our own fault by not stopping the commie creep in academia and media.

[@justforever96]

Another interesting thing about these old films, all of them, is we have this idea that they were all gritty and poor quality, but they were actually much clearer to viewers of the time. Much of the poor quality comes from the degradation of the film over time. Of course, that probably applies less to the film taken in action or by gun cameras, but I'm sure it still had an effect. Most silent films were actually quite clear and easy to watch, although it's hard to believe watching the footage today.

[@Folma7]

justforever96 Also the footage aboard ship weren’t shot with the best equipment available at the time but by combat photographers using small cameras made for rough service. If I remember correctly they were shot on 30 second reels with no sound. The footage was rough even for that period.

[@kollerbrian]

A reason to believe that the USA will always be the best. Great WW2 Film making. War power; top ingenuity with perfect timing. Japanese Military Expansion the started to plan in the 1920s. Japanese, Sun High of today's Military Might. SUN HIGH JAPAN, Brian A Koller

[@slapeters2004]

How there are so many dislikes is really stunning. This was a decisive victory for the United States of America and they absolutely crushed the enemy and avenged the imperial enemy that murdered thousands of people in Pearl Harbor. I am extremely proud and feel safe that we have the most outstanding and best equipped military in the world. Never again will our country be caught off-guard, and the fact that we have so many bases strategically around the world and in countries that we crushed during the war. Each of these bases have the ability to crush any Axis power that decide to test our will to stay a free nation. I’m sure a day will come when some rogue nation decides to attack our country, but thankfully we have the ability to see it coming, and then we will destroy anyone that decides to dip their toe in the water. We will smash it, flatten it, and make them sorry for ever testing our will and might. God bless the USA and our allies that recognize democracy and freedom as the only way to exist in this world. Anything else is an enemy of freedom and will eventually be crushed.

[@juanblanco8229]

I have these series on DVD

[@MichaelOnRockyTop]

Does anyone know the orchestra piece at the intro? Its beautiful

[@Og-Judy]

My dad was on the USS Edmonds DE-406. Screened the escort carriers during Leyte.

[@joeschlotthauer840]

4:45, "this is your very own ship"

[@henrybenak5803]

My dad was there on the USS West Virginia.