<prompt> Qedela umusho olandelayo: I-Alabama yasekela  <response>: ukufika eLeyte ngomhlaka 15 Okthoba ngaphambi kokuba abuyele esikrinini somthwali ukuze abaphelekezele kolunye uchungechunge lwezibhamu eziqhamuka eziqhingini kulo lonke elasePhilippines ngomhlaka 21 Okthoba, 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. 