The Battle of Leyte Gulf took place today in 1944. Can you name two reasons it was significant?

Answer:

1. It was the largest naval battle in history.

2. It marked, according to most accounts, the beginning of the Japanese kamikaze strategy.

Allied forces: 

8 fleet carriers
8 light carriers
18 escort carriers
12 battleships
24 cruisers
141 destroyers and destroyer escorts

Japanese forces:

1 fleet carrier
3 light carriers
9 battleships
14 heavy cruisers
6 light cruisers
35+ destroyers