The Battle off Samar was the centermost action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf; one of the largest naval battles in history; which took place in the Philippine Sea off Samar Island; in the Philippines on October 25; 1944. As the only major action in the larger battle where the Americans were largely unprepared against the opposing forces; it has been cited by historians as one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history.

In the combined Battle of Leyte Gulf; 10;000 Japanese sailors and 3;000 Americans died. Although the battleship Yamato and the remaining force returned to Japan; the battles marked the final defeat of the Japanese Navy; as the ships remained in port for most of the rest of the war and ceased to be an effective naval force. Pictures From History