Although largely unknown to British readers, Leyte Gulf marked the culmination of the naval battles not only of World War II but of history. The biggest in scale, it was also the most varied, employing every type of vessel from giant battleship to submarine and every form of aircraft from interceptor fighter to suicide attacker. It marked also the final eclipse of the battleship as the major weapon at sea and confirmed the vital importance of the aircraft carrier. Yet the greatest interest in the battle lies in the crucial decisions that had to be taken during its course by the American and Japanese commanders with their very different aims and outlooks. Though the outcome was decisive, the result was in doubt almost until the end. In the first full-length account by a British author, the issues of the battle are considered impartially and its many puzzles are explained. - Jacket flap.