Taffy 3's destroyers stop a superior force

Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague's Taffy 3 had six escort carriers, three Fletcher-class destroyers, and four John C. Butler-class destroyer escorts against a force built around Yamato, Nagato, Kongo, and Haruna. These were support formations with no cruisers or battleships, and their aircraft were operating in a strike-support role rather than waiting as a concentrated fleet air group. Hoel, Johnston, Samuel B. Roberts, and the escort carrier Gambier Bay were lost to gunfire as the escorts attacked a vastly stronger force. A second escort carrier was lost to a kamikaze attack later that day. Torpedoes, smoke, improvised air strikes, and persistent resistance disrupted Japanese command and helped persuade Kurita that stronger American forces were arriving. Yamato's turn away from torpedoes separated Kurita from the immediate action, while poor reconnaissance made it harder for him to distinguish the small force in front of him from the reinforcements he expected. The defense bought time and imposed enough uncertainty and cruiser losses to help turn Center Force away.