<prompt> Qedela umusho olandelayo:  <response>: Ukwehla kwamasosha eLeyte mhlaka 17 Okthoba kwabangela ukuthi abaphathi abaphezulu baseJapane baqale i-Operation Shō-Gō 1, okwakuyisinyathelo esiphikisayo esiyinkimbinkimbi esasihilela imikhumbi emine ehlukene eyayihlangana nomkhumbi wokuhlasela wamabutho ahlangene ukuze awubhubhise. 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. 