The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
The story of a small American escort carrier group that took on the main Japanese fleet at the Battle off.
The Verdict
The greatest underdog story the US Navy ever produced, told with the urgency it deserves. Off Samar in October 1944, a handful of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort carriers — light ships never meant to face the line — turned and charged the most powerful battleship force Japan put to sea, and somehow turned it back. Hornfischer reconstructs those desperate hours from survivor interviews into a narrative that reads like a thriller and honors men who expected to die and attacked anyway. The best single account of the most astonishing surface action of the war.
Who Should Read It
Read it if you want
- The definitive account of the Battle off Samar
- Heart-stopping surface-combat narrative
- Readers who love against-the-odds true stories
- An accessible, gripping naval history
Look elsewhere if you want
- The full strategic sweep of Leyte Gulf
- The carrier-aviation side of the Pacific war
- A measured, analytical pace over narrative drive
Why We Rated It 4.8
Historical Context
The Battle off Samar (25 October 1944) was the central action of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf. Admiral Kurita's battleship force, including the superbattleship Yamato, fell upon the lightly armed escort group 'Taffy 3.' The American destroyers' suicidal counterattacks and the ferocity of the escort-carrier air groups convinced Kurita to break off, sparing the invasion fleet.
Events Covered
Editions & Reading Notes
Read It Alongside
Collector's Corner
Where to Buy
ISBN: 978-0553381481
Other Books About the Same Events
More by James Hornfischer
Frequently Asked Questions
- What battle is Tin Can Sailors about?
- The Battle off Samar, the climactic surface action within the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf, where American escort ships drove off a far superior Japanese battleship force.
- Is it beginner-friendly?
- Yes. It assumes no prior knowledge and reads like a thriller, making it an excellent entry point to the naval war in the Pacific.
- What should I read next?
- Hornfischer's The Fleet at Flood Tide continues the Pacific story; Ian Toll's trilogy provides the full strategic picture.