USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) was a Casablanca-class escort carrier of the United States Navy.
On 25th October 1944, the Japanese deployed their entire fleet against the American Naval forces in Leyte Gulf off Philippines but the Japanese Navy was hit hard.
Shortly after this, while US commanders were unaware of the movement of Japanese Center Force during night time, the four Japanese battleships, two light cruisers, 6 heavy cruisers and 11 destroyers had slipped undetected through the coast of Samar.
US pilots tried to destabilize the Japanese formation with bombs, torpedoes and strafing and smoke was laid down to break up the enemy formation. However, Gambier Bay was fired on and hit by several Japanese warships. With her only 130mm gun, Gambier Bay fired at one enemy cruiser that was shelling her.
The destroyers Heermann and Johnston also made an effort to save her, but all in vain. Her main engine room was flooded and she capsized and sank within an hour. Sharks killed many drifting combatants and 800 of her 930 crew were rescued after 2 days.
Source: Wikipedia
