The battle secured the beachheads of the U.S. Sixth Army on Leyte against attack from the sea, broke the back of Japanese naval power and opened the way for an advance to the Ryukyu Islands in 1945. The only significant Japanese naval operation afterwards was the disastrous Operation Ten-Go in April 1945. Kurita's force had begun the battle with five battleships; when he returned to Japan, only Yamato was combat-worthy. Nishimura's sunken Yamashiro was the last battleship in history to engage another in combat. COUNT 5
QSN1 What were the Leyte beachheads of the U.S. Sixth Army secured from? ANS1 attack from the sea QSN2 When did Operation Ten-Go occur? ANS2 April 1945 QSN3 How many battleships did Kurita begin Operation Ten-Go with? ANS3 five QSN4 What was the last battleship in history to engage in combat with another battleship? ANS4 Yamashiro QSN5 Which battleship was still capable of combat when Kurita returned to Japan? ANS5 Yamato