The USS Hoel, a destroyer, was patrolling off the island of Samar in the Philippines when it was attacked at around 8 a.m. by the Japanese. The ship went down in a depth of 4,000 fathoms — about ...

Several places here to commemorate battleRegarding “WWII veterans of key battle set to reunite in San Diego” (Oct. 19): May I mention the massive oil painting of the Battle off Samar on… ...

Theirs is a mostly-forgotten battle from World War II, a David vs. Goliath fight where they were David. And David won.Now, 70 years later, veterans of the Battle Off Samar in the Philippines are ga… ...

Outnumbered and outgunned, the crew of the U.S.S. Johnston fought overwhelming odds before their ship sank more than 21,000 ...

The survivors of the Battle off Samar -- now in their 90's -- received a special honor onboard the USS Midway Museum Saturday on the anniversary. They came from all over the country.

The ship sank off the coast of Samar Island on Oct. 25, 1944, during World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf, an intense struggle with Japanese forces that heavily outmatched the Johnston's crew.

The ship is believed to be the USS Johnston, a Fletcher-class destroyer sunk during the Battle off Samar. (Vulcan Inc.) RV Petrel is no stranger to shipwreck discoveries.

Mayer and Kraft believe it’s probably the Johnston (DD-557) but it also could be the Hoel (DD-533), both of which were sunk on Oct. 25, 1944, during the brutal Battle off Samar.

The warship was lost during the Battle off Samar, part of the larger, sprawling Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 25, 1944. With the outcome of the war already decided, the Japanese were seeking ...

USS Gambier Bay, another escort carrier, and two destroyer-escorts lay a smoke screen during the Battle off Samar, October 25, 1944. US Navy ...

One enemy vessel sank. Another retreated. USS Heermann, attempting to lay down a smoke screen during the engagement off Samar on Oct. 25, 1944. (U.S. Navy photograph) The Heermann was hit, too.