<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Ukufika eLeyte  <response>: Ngo-Okthoba 17, i-Operation Shō-Gō 1 yasungulwa yi-Japanese High Command, okwakuyisinyathelo esiyinkimbinkimbi esasibandakanya imikhumbi emine ehlukene eyayihlangana nomkhumbi we-Allied invasion ukuze uyibulale. I-1st Mobile Fleet, manje ebizwa ngeNorthern Force, yayincishiswe kakhulu ngamandla ngeminyaka emithathu yokulwa futhi yayihloselwe ukukhonza kuphela njengokuphazamisa ukuheha ithimba lomsebenzi waseMelika elisheshayo lokuthwala kude nomkhumbi wokuhlasela. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, i-Center Force kaVice Admiral Takeo Kurita yayizodlula eSan Bernardino Strait bese ihlasela imikhumbi yokuhlasela. Nokho, abaseMelika bayibona indlela kaKurita, futhi abathwali bezindiza baqala ukuhlasela okukhulu imikhumbi yakhe njengoba idlula oLwandle iSibuyan. Ngemva kokulahlekelwa umkhumbi wempi onamandla eMpini yoLwandle lwaseSibuyan ngo-Okthoba 24, iKurita yashintsha inkambo okwesikhashana. Lokhu kwaqinisekisa uHalsey, manje owayengukhomanda we-Third Fleet, ukuthi athumele iqembu lomsebenzi okusheshayo ukuze abhubhise i-1st Mobile Fleet, eyayitholakale ngaleso sikhathi. 