Battle off Samar Trivia Quiz

Answer: IJN Yamato

The IJN Yamato was the most heavily armed battleship in history. She had a main battery of 9 18.1" (45.974 centimeters) guns. She was 862' (262.7376 meters) long and weighed 72,000 tons (62,317.301 metric tons, 64,285.714 long tons). The Yamato was the largest battleship in history.

Answer: 5"

Taffy III's three destroyers were armed with 5 5" (12.7 centimeters) guns; four destroyer escorts were armed with 2, and 6 carriers were armed with 1. The destroyers also had 10 Mark 15 torpedoes aboard in 2 quintuple launchers on their deck. And the destroyer escorts had 3 Mark 15's housed in a single triple launcher.

Answer: USS Johnston

The destroyer USS Johnston attacked the heavy cruiser IJN Kumano with only her 5 5" (12.7 centimeter) guns and 10 Mark 15 torpedoes. The Johnston's torpedoes blew the Kumano's bow off. Before the torpedoes hit home, Johnston unleashed 200 rounds of 5" ammo in only 5 minutes, wrecking Kumano's bridge.

After the Kumano pulled out of the fight, escorted by IJN Suzuya (later sunk by TBM Avenger torpedo bombers). But this attack came at the Johnston's price: she was then within 7 miles (11.265408 kilometers) of the battleship IJN Kongo. Kongo smashed Johnston's bridge with 3 14" (35.56 centimeters) projectiles. Johnston's speed was cut in half to just 17 knots. Seconds later, 3 6" (15.24 centimeters) shells (possibly from Yamato) smashed the bridge.

The Johnston retreated.

Answer: CDR. Ernst E. Evans

CDR. Ernst E. Evans was a very brave captain of the Johnston. He was killed in the sinking of the Johnston and later there was a destroyer escort named after him. He led the Johnston into battle alone.

Answer: Destroyer Escort

The USS Samuel B. Roberts was a lightly armed destroyer escort (or DE), 1 of the 4 destroyer escorts of Taffy III. Armed with three Mark 15 torpedoes in a single triple launcher, and 2 5" (12.7 centimeters) guns, 1 on the front, and 1 on the back.

Answer: IJN Chokai

As the Roberts approached, the Chokai fired, but was unable to train her guns low enough. The Roberts fired her torpedoes, and scored a direct hit. Then, for 60 incredible minutes, the Roberts dueled with the Chokai with her 2 5" (12.7 centimeters) guns.

She unleashed 600 rounds of ammunition. The Roberts suffered devastating hits, knocking out 1 of her 5" (12.7 centimeters) turrets. With her only gun, she set IJN Chikuma's bridge afire. Then, 3 14" (35.56 centimeters) projectiles ripped a 40' (12.192 meters) hole in her hull, sinking her.

The ship is known as "The Destroyer Escort That Fought Like a Battleship."

Answer: USS Hoel and FM-2 Wildcats

As FM-2 Wildcats attacked Japanese ships, the Wildcats forced the Japanese into defensive maneuvers allowing USS Hoel, and USS Heermann to launch their torpedoes. USS Heermann's torpedoes missed their intended target, and streaked toward the Yamato, which broke hard left to avoid the threat.

When an FM-2 started shooting at Yamato with his .50 caliber machine guns, after the air and torpedo assault, Yamato did not rejoin the fight.

Answer: IJN Yahagi

The Yahagi led four destroyers on a torpedo run. The only ship in position to stop them was the battered USS Johnston. The Johnston opened fire, and attempted to cross the T, the Japanese turned hard right, and fired their torpedoes, which missed the Johnston.

The Yahagi and the four destroyers, struck the Johnston; her engines quit, and the Japanese sank Johnston. After this, the Japanese retreated - and 200,000 American soldiers were safe.

Answer: 5

2 destroyers, 2 carriers, and 1 destroyer escort were sunk. Over 1,000 American sailors are airmen were killed.

Answer: USS St. Lo

Hours after the Battle off Samar, the USS St. Lo was attacked by kamikaze. One hit sank it in minutes.