<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Wathuthela eLeyte Gulf ngo-Okthoba 18, izinsuku ezimbili ngaphambi kokwehla kwangempela, ukuhlanganisa imisebenzi yeqembu lokuqothula amaminasi nokuqothula ngaphansi kwamanzi ngaphambi kokuhlasela. 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 ukuhlasela kwaseLeyte  <response>: , Welles wajoyina isikrini se-Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorfs line of old battleships esicishe sabulala amandla esitha azama ukuqhubekela phambili eSurigao 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. 