Task Unit 77.4.3

Task Unit 77.4.3, famously known by its radio call sign "Taffy 3," was a component of the United States Navy's Seventh Fleet during the Pacific War of World War II. Formed in 1944, it was one of three escort carrier groups within Task Force 77 providing close air support for the invasion of the Philippines. The unit is historically renowned for its heroic and desperate defense during the Battle off Samar in October 1944, where it faced a vastly superior Imperial Japanese Navy surface fleet. Its actions are considered one of the most notable examples of naval courage and tactical tenacity in modern military history.

Formation and Composition

Task Unit 77.4.3 was established as part of the broader naval support for Operation King II, the assault on Leyte. It was subordinate to Task Group 77.4, the Escort Carrier Group, commanded by Thomas L. Sprague. The unit's composition was centered around a core of six ''Casablanca''-class escort carriers, including the USS ''Fanshaw Bay'' and USS ''St. Lo''. These were protected by a screen of three ''Fletcher''-class destroyers and four smaller destroyer escorts, such as the USS ''Johnston'' and USS ''Samuel B. Roberts''. This modest force was designed for anti-submarine warfare, ground support, and close air support missions rather than fleet combat against capital ships.

Operation Iceberg

While Task Unit 77.4.3 earned its fame at Leyte, elements of its parent formation, Task Group 77.4, later participated in Operation Iceberg, the Battle of Okinawa. During this campaign, escort carriers from the Taffy groups provided critical air cover for the amphibious landings and conducted strikes against Japanese positions on Okinawa and the Sakishima Islands. The carriers operated under constant threat from Kamikaze attacks, which inflicted severe damage on several units, including the sinking of the USS ''Bismarck Sea''. The air support from these carriers was vital to the success of the U.S. Tenth Army during the protracted and bloody land battle.

Command and Notable Personnel

The unit was commanded by Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague, who directed its actions from the flagship USS ''Fanshaw Bay'' during the Battle off Samar. Key subordinate commanders included Ernest E. Evans, captain of the destroyer USS ''Johnston'', whose aggressive tactics against heavy cruisers earned him a posthumous Medal of Honor. Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland of the destroyer escort USS ''Samuel B. Roberts'' also led a legendary defensive action. The air groups, flying F4F Wildcats and TBF Avengers, were commanded by officers such as Edward J. Huxtable, who coordinated desperate air attacks against the Japanese fleet.

Ships of the Unit

The primary escort carriers of Task Unit 77.4.3 were the USS ''Fanshaw Bay'' (flagship), USS ''St. Lo'', USS ''White Plains'', USS ''Kalinin Bay'', USS ''Kitkun Bay'', and USS ''Gambier Bay'', the only American carrier sunk by naval gunfire in the war. The destroyer screen consisted of the USS ''Johnston'', USS ''Hoel'', and USS ''Heermann''. Destroyer escorts included the USS ''Samuel B. Roberts'', USS ''Raymond'', USS ''Dennis'', and USS ''John C. Butler''.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The actions of Task Unit 77.4.3 during the Battle off Samar are celebrated as a defining moment of U.S. naval heroism, fundamentally altering the course of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Their desperate defense is credited with protecting the vulnerable Leyte beachheads and causing the powerful Japanese ''Center Force'' under Takeo Kurita to withdraw. The engagement is extensively studied at institutions like the United States Naval Academy and the Naval War College for lessons in leadership, tactical innovation, and the impact of air power. The unit's legacy is memorialized in numerous historical works, including James D. Hornfischer's *The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors*, and remains a powerful symbol of determination against overwhelming odds.

Category:Task forces of the United States Navy Category:World War II task forces Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II