In addition, Halsey may well have been influenced by the recent criticisms of Admiral Raymond Spruance, who was criticized for excessive caution in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, allowing the bulk of the Japanese fleet to escape.
Desuden kan Halsey have været påvirket af kritikken mod admiral Spruance, som i brede kredse blev anset for at have været for forsigtig i Slaget i det Filippinske hav og dermed havde ladet hovedparten af den japanske flåde undslippe.