Definately a case of punching above their weight!!!! Samar notwitchstanding, the Japanese entire plan was wrecked to hell. Superior fire power and logistics at every step. The battle was indeed America's to lose. It was also over before it began. Nothing was going to stop MacArthur from his victory parade in downtown Manilla. His publicity troops almost (*almost*) outnumbered frontline troops.

He landed more men in less time than Normandy. His ego served him well on that occasion and Leyte would be his crowning moment until Inchon. He had Leyte consolodated while the Japanese were still dropping lines and raising anchors. Most of his stores/supply ships were relief aid for the Philippino populace and ship fulls of tents to rehouse liberated POW's.

Kurita had no troop ships. Had he sank Taffy 3 down to the ship and reached the Leyte anchorage and survived Army Air long enough to sink everything anchored there, then what? Halsey notwithstanding, there were a ton of sh*t-hot admirals there plus virtually every battle-seasoned carrier the USN had to muster. The IJN's ghosts from Midway could have been there and they'd have still lost. America was too good at that point and too well-armed.

Hopefully my Fujimi Musashi and Skywave Sammy B will be ready soon. As far as Matty Models parts go, the only ships I have that could use them would be Iowa and Baltimore. And I'd gladly trade you a 400th scale HMS Ursula for some... Baltimore has her guns but I don't like them. Trump's molding doesn't match the rest of the ship. Even tho they're installed, I'd gladly tear them off! Tamiya Missouri kit is being done as Iowa and she's "naked" at the moment, gun-wise.

Cheers,



Don