<prompt> Qedela umusho olandelayo: Wathuthela eLeyte Gulf ngo-Okthoba 18, izinsuku ezimbili ngaphambi kokwehla kwangempela, ukuze ahlanganise imisebenzi yeqembu lokuqothula amaminasi langaphambi kokuhlasela kanye neqembu lokubhidliza ngaphansi kwamanzi. Iziqhumane zayo nazo zaba nesandla ekuhlaselweni kwebhomu ngaphambi kokuhlasela. Ngemuva kokwehla komkhumbi ngo-Okthoba 20, umkhumbi wempi wakhipha umlilo osekela amasosha ayeqhubekela ogwini futhi wavikela imikhumbi yokuhlasela ekuhlaselweni yizitha ezinzima ezindiza. Kule ndima yokugcina, wabulala umuntu oyedwa engasizwa muntu. Lapho amaJapane eqala ukuhlasela kwawo okuyizingxenye ezintathu ukuze aqede  <response>: Ekuhlaselweni kweLeyte, i- Welles yajoyina isikrini se-Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorfs line of old battleships okuyinto ecishe yabulala amandla esitha azama ukucindezela iSurigao Strait eningizimu yeLeyte ngobusuku buka-24 kuya ku-25 Okthoba. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, waphetha ingxenye yakhe ekusebenzeni kwePhilippine futhi wathatha umhlalaphansi e-Ulithi Atoll lapho ejoyina khona isikrini se-Fast Carrier Task Force. 