<prompt> Bhala ukuqhubeka kwalesi sigaba - Alabama yasekela ukufika eLeyte  <response>: ngo-Okthoba 15 ngaphambi kokuba abuyele esikrinini somthwali ukuze abaphelekezele kolunye uchungechunge lokuhlasela emoyeni eziqhingini kulo lonke elasePhilippines ngo-Okthoba 21, manje esedluliselwe ku-TG 38.4. Ukwehla kweLeyte kwaholela ekusebenzeni kwe-Operation Shō-Gō 1, impendulo ehleliwe yasolwandle yaseJapane yokwehla kwe-Allied ePhilippines. Lolu hlelo kwakuwumsebenzi oyinkimbinkimbi onamabutho amathathu ahlukene: i-1st Mobile Fleet, manje ebizwa ngeNorthern Force ngaphansi kukaVice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa, iCenter Force ngaphansi kukaVice Admiral Takeo Kurita, kanye neSouthern Force ngaphansi kukaVice Admiral Shōji Nishimura. Imikhumbi yezikebhe ka-Ozawa, manje eyayingasenayo iningi lezindiza zayo, kwakufanele isebenze njengesihebo semikhumbi yempi kaKurita noNishimura, okwakufanele isebenzise ukuphazamiseka ukuhlasela imikhumbi yokuhlasela ngokuqondile. 