Battle of Leyte Gulf (萊特灣海戰)

Location: Leyte Gulf, eastern Philippines Date: 23 --26 October, 1944

Countries: Allies (United States and Australia) vs. Japan

Aircraft carriers: U.S.: 9 fleet carriers (USS Intrepid, Hornet, Franklin, Lexington, Bunker Hill, Wasp, Hancock, Enterprise, Essex) and 8 light fleet carriers (Independence, Princeton, Belleau Wood, Cowpens, Monterey, Langley, Cabot, San Jacinto) vs Japan: 1 fleet carrier (Zuikaku) and 3 light carriers (Zuiho, Chitose, and Chiyoda)

Result: With 21 carriers taking part in total, the battle is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II. After fighting, the Allies won, while the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered its greatest loss, with all four of its aircraft carriers sunk.