Surigao Strait shows what preparation could achieve

Seventh Fleet massed six older battleships, cruisers, 28 destroyers, and 39 motor torpedo boats across Surigao Strait. Five of the battleships had been sunk or damaged at Pearl Harbor, giving their return to action an additional historical resonance, while Mississippi had instead served on Atlantic neutrality and convoy duties. Nishimura's Southern Force ran into successive torpedo attacks and a concentrated gun line, leaving Shigure as the only survivor from the immediate formation. Australian ships also joined the Allied formation: the Tribal-class destroyer HMAS Arunta and County-class cruiser HMAS Shropshire added their fire to Oldendorf's line. USS Albert W. Grant was damaged by both Japanese and friendly gunfire, a reminder that even a lopsided, carefully prepared night action remained confused and dangerous. A Japanese column entering a prepared chokepoint faced a very different battle from a force surprising its opponent in open water.