The Battle Off Samar - October 25, 1944
Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3"), commanded by Rear Admiral Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague
Taffy III - Task Unit 77.4.3
Consisted of CVE's St. Lo, White Plains, Kitkun Bay, Kalinin Bay, Fanshaw Bay and Gambier Bay, escorted by the Destroyers: Heermann, Hoel and Johnston and Destroyer Escorts: Dennis, Samuel B. Roberts, John C. Butler and Raymond.
USS Johnston(DD-557) - Hoel(DD-533) Web Site (a lot of really good reading here)
The U.S.S. HOEL sank at about 0855 Item on 25 October, 1944,
@ Latitude 11 degrees - 46' North, Longitude 126 degrees - 33' East.
At 0855 the ship rolled over on her port side and then sank stern first.
Taffy 3 Small Boys Monument - Fort Rosecrans - San Diego
USS HOEL (DD 533), USS JOHNSTON (DD 557), & USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413)
The USS Hoel DD-533 lost the most men.
Memorial to ADM Sprague & Taffy 3 - San Diego
750 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, California (next to USS Midway)
A small force of escorts and small carriers face off against the biggest battleship the world has ever seen, plus all its friends, AND WIN!.
Very good detailed blow-by-blow account of the battle.
www.navyhistory.org/2011/12/battle-off-samar-film/ (I don't think this will ever see the light of day)