65 Years Ago Today; "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" - Aircraft of World War II

syscom3 · 10-26-2009, 12:49 AM

Today, on Oct 25th 1944, the naval battle off Samar (Philipines) was fought. A totally out numbered and out gunned US task force did the impossible and held off and defeated the IJN.

A few years ago, a book came out celebrating this achievement. ""The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors"" by James D. Hornfischer

The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The nonfiction book The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour is the first full narrative account of the Battle off Samar, which author James D. Hornfischer calls the greatest upset in the history of naval warfare. Published by Bantam Books in February 2004, the book won the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature in 2004 from the Naval Order of the United States.

A Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Military Book Club, the book tells the story of the remarkable two-and-a-half-hour sea battle fought on October 25, 1944, in which Rear Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague's task unit, known as "Taffy 3" (7th Fleet's Task Unit 77.4.3), of "jeep carriers" and their "tin can" escorts rose to the impossible challenge of beating back an overwhelming force of Japanese battleships and cruisers under Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita. Survivors of the four U.S. ships lost in the battle—USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557), USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), and USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)—then struggled to survive a three-day-ordeal adrift at sea awaiting rescue. A fifth ship from Taffy 3, the escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63), was sunk in a kamikaze attack immediately following the Japanese withdrawal.

Two TV documentaries based on Hornfischer's book have been produced. The first of them, produced by Lou Reda Productions and premiering on The History Channel on November 11, 2005, featured interviews with Hornfischer and veterans of the battle. It was followed by an episode of Dogfights on the History Channel, titled "The Death of the Japanese Navy", premiering on December 29, 2006, which featured a sophisticated CGI rendition of the sea battle. One episode of Battle 360 dealt with the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Amsel · 10-26-2009, 03:12 PM

One of the most notable moments in USnaval history. The bravery and fighting spirit of these officers and sailors is inspirational.

Great book by the way.

vikingBerserker · 10-26-2009, 08:21 PM

This is one story I never tired about reading.

Aaron Brooks Wolters · 10-26-2009, 08:33 PM

If I'm not mistaken the IJN actually thought the firing against our Battleships at one point during the engagement.

Gnomey · 10-26-2009, 08:44 PM

Certainly a remarkable story worthy of many movies and books.

wheelsup_cavu · 10-27-2009, 02:00 AM

An almost unbelievable act of courage.

Wheels

ToughOmbre · 11-04-2009, 03:51 PM

One of the greatest acts of collective heroism, certainly in the annals of US Navy history.

TO

Vassili Zaitzev · 11-04-2009, 03:58 PM

One of the finest days in USN combat history.

10-26-2009, 12:49 AM	#1
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,283	65 Years Ago Today; "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" Today, on Oct 25th 1944, the naval battle off Samar (Philipines) was fought. A totally out numbered and out gunned US task force did the impossible and held off and defeated the IJN. A few years ago, a book came out celebrating this achievement. ""The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors"" by James D. Hornfischer The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The nonfiction book The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour is the first full narrative account of the Battle off Samar, which author James D. Hornfischer calls the greatest upset in the history of naval warfare. Published by Bantam Books in February 2004, the book won the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature in 2004 from the Naval Order of the United States. A Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Military Book Club, the book tells the story of the remarkable two-and-a-half-hour sea battle fought on October 25, 1944, in which Rear Admiral Clifton A. F. Sprague's task unit, known as "Taffy 3" (7th Fleet's Task Unit 77.4.3), of "jeep carriers" and their "tin can" escorts rose to the impossible challenge of beating back an overwhelming force of Japanese battleships and cruisers under Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita. Survivors of the four U.S. ships lost in the battle—USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557), USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413), and USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73)—then struggled to survive a three-day-ordeal adrift at sea awaiting rescue. A fifth ship from Taffy 3, the escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63), was sunk in a kamikaze attack immediately following the Japanese withdrawal. Two TV documentaries based on Hornfischer's book have been produced. The first of them, produced by Lou Reda Productions and premiering on The History Channel on November 11, 2005, featured interviews with Hornfischer and veterans of the battle. It was followed by an episode of Dogfights on the History Channel, titled "The Death of the Japanese Navy", premiering on December 29, 2006, which featured a sophisticated CGI rendition of the sea battle. One episode of Battle 360 dealt with the Battle of Leyte Gulf. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

10-26-2009, 03:12 PM	#2
Amsel Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,738	One of the most notable moments in USnaval history. The bravery and fighting spirit of these officers and sailors is inspirational. Great book by the way. __________________ 'Live Free or Die'

10-26-2009, 08:21 PM	#3
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,768	This is one story I never tired about reading. __________________ "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it" "Those who dwell in the past, condemn the future" Last edited by vikingBerserker; 10-26-2009 at 11:47 PM.

10-26-2009, 08:33 PM	#4
Aaron Brooks Wolters Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Abingdon, VA. Posts: 2,300	If I'm not mistaken the IJN actually thought the firing against our Battleships at one point during the engagement. __________________

10-26-2009, 08:44 PM	#5
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	Certainly a remarkable story worthy of many movies and books. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

10-27-2009, 02:00 AM	#6
wheelsup_cavu Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Corona, California Posts: 1,534	An almost unbelievable act of courage. Wheels __________________ Cheers Wheelsup_cavu Wheels's Photos - Time lapse build of an F/A-18 Super Hornet - Lock N' Load

11-04-2009, 03:51 PM	#7
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	One of the greatest acts of collective heroism, certainly in the annals of US Navy history. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

11-04-2009, 03:58 PM	#8
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,221	One of the finest days in USN combat history. __________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode