The 48-star battle ensign of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). The USS Samuel B Roberts (DE-413) was part of Task Unit 77.4.3, radio signal Taffy 3, a group of escort carriers and destroyers patrolling the coast of Samar in support of the US Army’s landings on Leyte in the Philippines. The Japanese fleet of 23 warships, initially thought to be in retreat from earlier battles in Leyte Gulf, had instead turned and were coming around the coast of Samar directly for Taffy 3. On 25 October 1944, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, knowing the odds, charged into battle at 0810. Closing on the heavy cruiser Chokai, USS Samuel B. Roberts opened fire, causing damage to the conning tower of the heavy cruiser emptying nearly its entire magazine matching the Chokai in battle blow-for-blow. The battleship Kongo turned its fire on the US destroyer, landing heavy damage at the waterline, the main deck, and a gun handling room, rendering her dead in the water. Receiving more fire from ...