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(Monday, October 23, 1944, 5:24 a.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The largest naval battle of World War II began this morning as the U.S. submarine USS Darter launched six torpedoes, striking the Japanese heavy cruiser Atago in the waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar, and Luzon.

Despite being significantly outmatched in terms of capital ships, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major vessels in a desperate bid to repel the Allied invasion of the Philippines.

The U.S. Navy’s Third and Seventh Fleets, commanding a powerful force of aircraft carriers and battleships, are mounting a strong counteroffensive.

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The battle is unfolding across four major engagements: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle off Cape Engaño, and the Battle off Samar, accompanied by smaller skirmishes throughout the region.

Reports indicate that Japanese forces are using kamikaze attacks in an organized fashion for the first time. These suicide strikes add a grim dimension to an already intense conflict.

For Japan, this battle represents a crucial, last-ditch effort to halt the Allied advance.

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The IJN, severely weakened but still determined, is throwing its remaining firepower into the fight.

Over the next three days, the conflict will intensify, with the Battle of Surigao Strait marking the final naval engagement between battleships in history.

By October 26, 1944, the once-mighty Japanese fleet will be decimated, suffering heavy losses, including four aircraft carriers, three battleships, and numerous cruisers and destroyers. This devastating blow will mark the end of Japan’s ability to challenge Allied naval supremacy in the Pacific.