 In October 1944 , the ship took part in " Operation Sho @-@ 1 " , an attack on the Allied landings on Leyte . Assigned to Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita 's 1st Diversion Force ( also known as the Center Force ) , Nagato was attacked by multiple waves of American dive bombers and fighters during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea on 24 October en route to Leyte Gulf . She was struck twice by bombs that killed 52 crewmen , but was not seriously damaged . 
