Residents of Surigao City are celebrating this week the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Surigao Strait which occurred before dawn of October 25, 1944 between ships of the United States Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Theme of the celebration is “Peace across Cultures”.
The US 7th Fleet Task Force 77 commanded by Vice Admiral Jesse Oldendorf comprising 6 battleships, 6 cruisers over 20 destroyers and nore than a dozen Patrol Torpedo (PT) boats engaged a large Imperial Japanese Navy “Southern Force” led by Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura in a night battle at Surigao Strait, through which the Japanese fleet was sailing towards Leyte Gulf to attack the American beach head where Gen. Douglas MacArthur had landed 250 thousand troops for the liberation of the Philippines.
Caught by surprise, the Japanese Southern Force was routed in one of the greatest naval battles in history. That battle and subsequent engagements in Philippine waters reduced Japan to a 5th class naval power and marked the beginning of the end of the war in the Pacific which culminated ten months later in the two atomic bomb strikes on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the unconditional surrender of Japan.
Naval historian Howard Sauer described the battle as the “Last Big Gun Naval Battle” involving ship-to-ship exchanges of artillery salvos where Oldendorf achieved a classic tactical manuever “Crossing the T” formation where the Japanese single column of ships sailed perpendicular like the body of a letter “T” towards the horizontal line of American ships which formed the “cross” thereby being able to concentrate firing broadsides on the leading Japanese ship which could fire only its forward guns. The one sided battle forced the Japanese ships to turn and attempt to escape from the trap. Only a few survived the American bombardment and the American beachhead on Leyte was saved. Thousands of Surigaonons had a sleepless night watching in awe the historic battle from the safety of the beaches.
Invited to attend the anniversary celebration were officials of the embassies of Japan, Australia, the United States and the Philippines.
The event consisted of welcome messages by City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, Gov. Sol F. Matugas and Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr. Also on the program were a Memorial Service, Ecumenical Prayer in Japanese, English and Surigaonon dialect, the playing of the national anthems of Japan, USA, Australia and the Philippines, Lighting of the Memorial Flame, Lighting of the Sky Lantern, Wreath Laying, Drum Roll, Gun Salute, Floral Offering (at sea) and various sports and musical events.
Invited as guest of honor was Maj. Joel A Dopp, Assistant Air Attache, representing the U.S. Embassy. [ram]
Theme of the celebration is “Peace across Cultures”.
The US 7th Fleet Task Force 77 commanded by Vice Admiral Jesse Oldendorf comprising 6 battleships, 6 cruisers over 20 destroyers and nore than a dozen Patrol Torpedo (PT) boats engaged a large Imperial Japanese Navy “Southern Force” led by Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura in a night battle at Surigao Strait, through which the Japanese fleet was sailing towards Leyte Gulf to attack the American beach head where Gen. Douglas MacArthur had landed 250 thousand troops for the liberation of the Philippines.
Caught by surprise, the Japanese Southern Force was routed in one of the greatest naval battles in history. That battle and subsequent engagements in Philippine waters reduced Japan to a 5th class naval power and marked the beginning of the end of the war in the Pacific which culminated ten months later in the two atomic bomb strikes on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the unconditional surrender of Japan.
Naval historian Howard Sauer described the battle as the “Last Big Gun Naval Battle” involving ship-to-ship exchanges of artillery salvos where Oldendorf achieved a classic tactical manuever “Crossing the T” formation where the Japanese single column of ships sailed perpendicular like the body of a letter “T” towards the horizontal line of American ships which formed the “cross” thereby being able to concentrate firing broadsides on the leading Japanese ship which could fire only its forward guns. The one sided battle forced the Japanese ships to turn and attempt to escape from the trap. Only a few survived the American bombardment and the American beachhead on Leyte was saved. Thousands of Surigaonons had a sleepless night watching in awe the historic battle from the safety of the beaches.
Invited to attend the anniversary celebration were officials of the embassies of Japan, Australia, the United States and the Philippines.
The event consisted of welcome messages by City Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas, Gov. Sol F. Matugas and Rep. Guillermo A. Romarate Jr. Also on the program were a Memorial Service, Ecumenical Prayer in Japanese, English and Surigaonon dialect, the playing of the national anthems of Japan, USA, Australia and the Philippines, Lighting of the Memorial Flame, Lighting of the Sky Lantern, Wreath Laying, Drum Roll, Gun Salute, Floral Offering (at sea) and various sports and musical events.
Invited as guest of honor was Maj. Joel A Dopp, Assistant Air Attache, representing the U.S. Embassy. [ram]
