How did two American submarines help open the Battle of Leyte Gulf and strike a devastating blow against the Imperial Japanese Navy?

On October 21, 1944, as American forces fought to liberate the Philippines, USS Darter (SS-227) was patrolling the dangerous waters near Palawan Passage. Commander David H. McClintock knew that Japan's powerful surface fleet would soon respond to the invasion of Leyte. His mission was to find it before it could reach the American invasion fleet.

Shortly before midnight, Darter's radar detected three fast-moving Japanese warships. What followed was a dangerous pursuit through reef-filled waters, urgent intelligence reports, and a coordinated submarine operation that would help set the stage for one of World War II's greatest naval battles.

Within forty-eight hours, Darter and USS Dace (SS-247) would deliver devastating attacks against Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's Center Force, sinking the Japanese heavy cruisers Atago and Maya and crippling Takao.

But Darter's remarkable fourth war patrol would end with the loss of the submarine herself.

In this episode of Patrol Reports, we return to October 21, 1944, to examine the decisions, courage, and submarine tactics that helped shape the opening hours of the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Discover how radar, tactical intelligence, and two determined American submarine crews changed the course of a major naval engagement in the Pacific War.

Patrol Reports tells the stories of the United States Submarine Force, preserving the history of American submarines and the men who served aboard them.

Sponsored by United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI), Bremerton Base.

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