19. The Tin Cans’ Suicidal Charge
Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague knew that his destroyers’ 5-inch guns stood no chance against the 23 armored Japanese battleships and cruisers steaming towards Leyte Gulf. He also knew that thousands of Americans would die if the Japanese reached Leyte. So he ordered Taffy 3’s destroyers and destroyer escorts into a suicidal charge.
The desperate attacks of the American “tin cans” were supported by planes flown from the escort carriers, making strafing attacks or dropping high explosives suitable for ground attack but mostly useless against the Japanese ships. When the American planes ran out of ammunition, they made dry strafing and bombing runs to discomfit the Japanese.