Leyte Gulf: A New History of the World's Largest Sea Battle - Paperback

by Mark Stille (Author)

'A worthy addition to any bookshelf.', The Naval Review

A fascinating re-examination of the battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval encounter in history and probably the most decisive naval battle of the entire Pacific War.

Leyte was a huge and complex action, actually consisting of four major battles, each of which are broken down in detail in this book, using original sources. The plans of both sides, and how they dictated the events that followed, are also examined critically.

So much of the accepted wisdom of the battle has developed from the many myths that surround it, myths that have become more firmly established over time. In this new study, Pacific War expert Mark Stille examines the key aspects of this complex battle with new and insightful analysis and dismantles the myths surrounding the respective actions and overall performances of the two most important commanders in the battle, and the "lost victory" of the Japanese advance into Leyte Gulf that never happened.

Author Biography

Mark Stille is the author of numerous Osprey titles focusing on naval history in the Pacific. A career in the intelligence community spanning nearly 40 years saw him undertake tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff and on US Navy ships. He received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College. He lives in Maryland.