Using the Leyte Gulf Operation or the Falklands Conflict as examples, select TWO of the operational functions listed below and discuss the impact they had on both belligerents during the planning, timing and conduct of the operation. Movement and Maneuver - The discussion should include how both sides conducted the maneuver and movement, as well as the capabilities possessed by each side. Japanese Movement and Maneuver The first thing to note is why the Northern Force was used to lure the 3rd Fleet away from the Philippines. Four months earlier, in June 1944, the Battle of the Philippine Sea took place. This was the Japanese attempt to defeat the US Carrier Force with everything they had. The end result was the sinking of 3 Japanese aircraft carriers and the shooting down or destruction of over 600 Japanese aircraft. After this engagement, the Japanese carrier force was virtually useless due to a lack of aircraft and pilots, especially experienced pilots. Because of the supplies and routes to/from the Philippines, the Japanese command knew that if the Philippines was lost, then war would break out. it was lost. The Japanese came up with another plan for an all-out battle to destroy the American invasion force just as they had attempted to do before in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. This time they took extreme measures that, if all had worked as planned, could have destroyed the American invasion fleet. They knew that the US viewed aircraft carriers as the Navy's most valuable/dangerous targets, so they used the remaining four carriers to lure the 3rd Fleet away. Vice Admiral Ozawa descended from the north and withdrew the main American covering force. At the same time, the forces of the Center and the South would try to penetrate the center of the card... in command but not among themselves. Without a proper chain of command with an intact plan, things like this can happen. Halsey left Nimitz, didn't tell him, and almost ruined the entire invasion. Fortunately for the United States, the IJN had the same problems. The total losses of US forces were: • over 1,500 dead; • 1 light aircraft carrier, • 2 escort carriers, • 2 destroyers, • 1 escort destroyer sunk Works Cited http://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf http://www.angelfire.com/fm/odyssey/LEYTE_GULF_Summary_of_the_Battle_.htm Page 58 Leyte: by Samuel Morison http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/BattleofLeyteGulf.23-26Oc .html Page 25 Leyte: Return to the Philippines Page 29 Leyte: Return to the Philippines http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf Page 332 Nimitz, by EB Potter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf