U.S.S. Allen M. Sumner DD-692
The Battle of Ormoc Bay December 2-3, 1944

Painting by Irwin J. "Pete" Kappes December 2-3, 1944 Phase, Battle of Ormoc Bay, Leyte, Philippines USS COOPER (DD-695), USS ALLEN M. SUMNER (DD-692) and USS MOALE (DD-693) close in on sinking Japanese destroyer IJN KUWA minutes before the torpedoing of the USS COOPER by the enemy destroyer IJN TAKE. Mr. Kappes was a Radarman aboard the MOALE during the battle and painted this scene in 2006.

As Irwin J. Kappes wrote, the Battle of Ormoc Bay was "One of the fiercest - and most pivotal - battles of the Pacific War is also one of the least known. It was, in fact the only naval engagement of the war in which the enemy unleashed the full fury of shore, sea-based, air, and undersea weapons all in one short, desperate action."

In the Official Reports Captain Sampson said, "I consider the performance of all officers and the entire crew outstanding. This engagement was the first real fight in which this vessel has participated. A comparatively green crew weathered a four hour air attack while under fire of shore batteries, and delivered destructive gun fire which sank two enemy ships and destroyed eight planes."

First person account of the battle by Sumner Crewman SF3c Eugene G. Anderson

First person account of the battle by Cooper Crewman Albert A. Masulis

Command level story of the battle by Moale Crewman Irwin J. Kappes

A New Look at the Battle for Leyte Gulf by Irwin J. Kappes

A sketch of the Battle taken from all the Action Reports

The Sumner's Official Action Report

The Moale's Official Action Report

The Cooper's Official Action Report

The Commander Destroyer Division ONE-TWENTY Action Report

Captain Sampson's Official Narrative of the Battle

Phil Arneson's Unofficial Action Report

Action off Ormoc - from OUR NAVY magazine

A Japanese Perspective

Return to the Cooper - Rob Lalumiere's historic dive of May 29 2005

Official Ship's Deck Log describing the Battle
Sumner's Deck Log
Moale's Deck Log

The Official TBS (talk between ships) Tactical Radio Logs Call Signs: Caboose is Sumner, Gelding is Cooper, Truant is Moale and entries beginning with OFF are CDD 120
Sumner
	1628-1740	1808-2104	2107-2320	2335-0158	0200-0531	0536-0800
Moale
	2010-2326	2326-0019	0022-0234	0234-0520	0520-0831

PhM2c Lee R. Jensen's notes on casualties on the Sumner

Visual Track Chart of the Battle

Time Line of the Battle extracted from Sumner's Action Reports

Front page of the New York Herald Tribune

Where is Ormoc Bay ?

The damage to the hull caused by the close bomb detonation just before entering the Bay
as it appeared during the overhaul at Hunters Point on February 14, 1945.

NAVSHIPS A-3 (420) SUMMARY OF WAR DAMAGE of 1 June 1945
Report cover page	Page 51 entry covering the Sumner

In Memory of our Shipmates on the USS Cooper (DD-695), a picture from their
Ship's Dance at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City - June 29, 1944
thanks to Jim O'Neil


Attention veterans of the Battle of Ormoc Bay (SUMNER, MOALE, COOPER and DesDiv 120).
There is an active reunion association for survivors of the battle.  Contact:
Glen Rhodes
Box G414 High Street
Mount Orab, OH 45154