| First section of the central force, ordered by Kurita |
 Nagato  | Yamato  |
 Chokai | Haguro  |
 Noshiro | Akishimo  |
| Fujinami | Hamanami  |
 Hayashimo | Kishinami  |
| Okinami | Shimakaze  |
| Second section of the Central Force, ordered by Kurita |
 Haruna | Kongo  |
 Chikuma | Kumano  |
 Suzuya | Tone  |
 Yahagi | Isokaze  |
| Nowake | Urakaze |
| Yukikaze |
| Sprague (TU 77.4.3. or "Taffy 3" on the radio. It was the group engaged by Kurita's guns) |
 Fanshaw Bay  | Gambier Bay  |
| Kalinin Bay | Kitkun Bay  |
| Saint Lo | White Plains |
 Heermann | Hoel  |
| Johnston | Dennis  |
 John C. Butler | Raymond II |
 Samuel B. Roberts |
169 aircraft | T.L. Sprague (TU 77.4.1. or "Taffy 1" on the radio. Sprague was in overall command of the 3 "Taffy") |
 Chenango | Petrof Bay |
 Saginaw Bay | Sangamon  |
| Santee | Suwanee |
 Hazelwood | MacCord |
| Trathen | Coolbaugh  |
 Edmonds | Eversole |
| Richard M. Rowell | Richard S. Bull |
174 aircraft | Stump (TU 77.4.2. or "Taffy 2" on the radio) |
| Kadashan Bay | Manila Bay |
| Marcus Island | Natoma Bay |
| Ommaney Bay | Savo Island |
| Franks | Haggard |
| Hailey | Abercrombie |
| LeRay Wilson | Oberrender |
| Richard W. Suesens | Walter C. Wann |
160 aircraft