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| BALANACAN HARBOR BOMBING NOVEMBER 25, 1944 |
| TA was the designation assigned to Japanese naval operations at getting reinforcements, supplies and munitions to their troops fighting the U.S. Invasion forces on Leyte, in the Philippines. TA No 5's second echelon comprising the trusty trio of T6, T9 and T10 escorted by the TAKE, cleared Manila on 24 November and put in at Port Balanacan, Marinduque on the 25th. But that morning the fast carriers of Task Groups 38.1 and 38.2 once again returned to their launch positions east of Luzon and flew off flights of heavily armed aircraft to blanket the area. Bombing Squadron 18 (VB-18) flying SB2C-1 Planes, Torpedo Squadron 18 (VT-18) flying TBM1-C Planes and Fighter Squadron 18 (VF-18) flying F6F-5 Hellcats from the United States Carrier Intrepid (CV-11) found and destroyed the Japanese fast transports T.6 and T.10, and damaged fast transport T.9 and the escort destroyer Take. Unfortunately while they were away the Intrepid was the victim of Japanese Kamikaze attacks. Later in the evening, a PBM-3D from the Patrol Bombing Squadron 20 (VPB20) overflew Balanacan and observed the two transports still burning. While over the harbor it was met with flak from an unknown destroyer backed into the cove. It is unknown if the Take had come back or another destroyer was dispatched to Balanacan. Presented on the above links you will find actual U.S. Naval Reports, Photos, and other information about the U.S. and Japanese forces involved. |
| USS WASP Action Map for Nov 25, 1994 showing Marinduque action |
| Japanese Map of Marinduque and surrounding shorelines |
| UPDATED 4-26-2020 |