Admiral Jesse Oldendorf, which consisted of six battleships, eight cruisers, 29 destroyers, and 39 motor torpedo boats. In the ensuing Battle of Surigao Strait, one of several actions that made up the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Nishimura's force was crushed when the Americans crossed the Japanese "T". Nishimura was killed during the battle when his flagship, Yamashiro, was sunk after taking multiple hits from the U.S. battleships. Notes References Further reading External links 1889 births 1944 deaths Military personnel from Akita Prefecture Japanese admirals of World War II Imperial Japanese Navy admirals Japanese military personnel killed in World War II People lost at sea Battle of Midway Imperial Japanese Naval Academy alumni