<prompt> Qedela umusho olandelayo: Ngo-Okthoba 3, wabelwa futhi wajoyina i-Task Group 77.4, eyayihlangana eManus Island, e-Admiralty Islands, njengengxenye ye-Seventh Fleet. Yena, ephelezelwa abanye abayishumi nesishiyagalombili abathwali be-escort kanye nezikrini zabo zempi, ama-cruisers, nama-destroyers, bahamba ngomkhumbi ngo-Okthoba 12 beya eLeyte Gulf, lapho kwakulindeleke ukuthi basekele i-  <response>: ukufika eLeyte, okwaphawula ukuqala komkhankaso wasePhilippines. Njengengxenye ye-Task Unit 77.4.2, eyaziwa nangokuthi Taffy 2, eyayilawulwa nguRear Admiral Felix Stump, yayibekwe ngqo eningizimu ye Taffy 3, eyayisempumalanga ngqo yeSan Bernardino Strait. Lapho efika esiqhingini ngo-Okthoba 18, izindiza zakhe zaqala ukwenza amaphoyisa asolwandle nokuhlasela izisulu ezazikhethiwe. Kwathi lapho i-Sixth Army ifika ngomhlaka-20 Okthoba, izindiza zayo zashintshela ekugxileni ekusekelweni emoyeni okuseduze, ukusekela ukuthuthuka kokuqala ezinsukwini ezimbalwa ezizayo. 