The Battle of Leyte Gulf took place in the waters near the Philippines from October 23 to October 26, 1944. This decisive battle was a culmination of the Allies' strategic goal to recapture the Philippines, which had been under Japanese occupation since 1942. The battle involved multiple naval engagements across several areas, including the Sibuyan Sea and the Surigao Strait, with the U.S. Seventh Fleet and the Japanese Combined Fleet engaging in fierce combat. The U.S. fleet was bolstered by the use of new technologies and strategies, including aircraft carriers and coordinated air assaults. Notable figures such as Admiral William Halsey led the American forces, while Admiral Soemu Toyoda commanded the Japanese fleet.The battle commenced with the U.S. Navy's preemptive air strikes that significantly damaged the Japanese fleet. The Americans utilized tactics that effectively split and outmaneuvered the Japanese forces, demonstrating superiority in naval strategy and operational planning. The climax of the battle saw the U.S. forces defeat the Japanese in multiple engagements, including the historic Surigao Strait battle, where a combined American fleet decisively crushed the remnants of the Japanese fleet. By the end of the confrontation, the Japanese navy suffered catastrophic losses, rendering it unable to protect its remaining occupied territories in the Pacific. This marked a significant shift in the naval balance of power in favor of the United States.