How Willis Lee's battleships could change Samar

How would Willis Lee have fared at Samar with several fast and older battleships?

The battle line could protect the carriers, free the destroyers to attack, and turn the Japanese advance into a trap.

Four or five fast battleships and several older battleships under Willis Lee would transform this Battle off Samar counterfactual. The American position becomes easier and might reverse the trap against the Japanese force. The carriers could withdraw behind a battle line able to block the surface attack. Destroyers would then be freer to attack offensively while the carriers concentrated on flying aircraft, allowing each part of the force to use its strengths.