The beginning of the end... In October 1944, the Japanese Navy, driven to desperation, set out to surprize and annihilate the American forces at Leyte Gulf. It was a daring, last ditch stroke to conquer the enemy of the South Pacific. For three days the bloodiest, most vicious sea fight in history raged amid a torrent of torpedoes and the bone-chilling scream of Kamikaze raids. When the fire and smoke cleared, the United States would bring the Imperial fleet, the fiercest Naval force in the world, to its knees. Or lose the war. Here is the blazing, hour by hour account of the brutal battle.