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October 1944
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Key day during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Three seperate battles are fought.
The main US carrier force is lured north, and defeats a Japanese decoy force, sinking four aircraft carriers (Battle of Cape Engano)
In the south a force of older US battleships defeats a weaker Japanese force attacking to attack Leyte Gulf from the south (Battle of Surigao Strait).
In the centre the main Japanese attack force of surface ships almost breaks into Leyte Gulf, but is held up by American escort carriers and eventually retreats without reaching the invasion fleet, its main target (Battle of Samar)
US, US and Soviet governments re-establish diplomatic relations with Italy
