Navy Task Force #8

In the fall of 1944, as American forces prepare to invade the Philippines, the Japanese launch a desperate naval gambit to disrupt the invasion at Leyte. With decoy carriers drawing off the U.S. Third Fleet, the main Japanese Central Force steams toward the strait, only to be met by fierce American resistance and ultimately forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses.

In the dark waters of Surigao Strait, the remnants of the Japanese Southern Force press forward, unaware they’ve walked into a deadly trap set by the U.S. Seventh Fleet. As American destroyers and PT boats close in, the battle unfolds with devastating precision, leaving the enemy fleet crippled and disoriented.

Admiral "Bull" Halsey, puzzled by the absence of Japanese aircraft carriers, launches a search that uncovers a decoy force designed to lure the American fleet away. Believing he has found the main Japanese fleet, Halsey prepares to attack, unaware that the carriers are lightly defended and meant only to deceive.

The HAWK IS AMONG THE CHICKENS! Admiral Sprague’s small fleet of escort carriers and destroyers is caught in a deadly ambush as Admiral Kurita’s powerful Japanese force advances toward the unguarded San Bernardino Strait. With no immediate reinforcements and outnumbered, the American ships must fight a desperate battle to hold their position and buy time for help to arrive.

In the midst of a tense Pacific patrol, a submarine commander leads his crew in a daring attack on a Japanese carrier, narrowly evading destroyers and enduring heavy damage before emerging victorious. After the battle, the submarine is brought to drydock, where the crew reflects on the strain of war and the vessel’s hard-earned rest.