 Nishimura 's " Southern Force " left Brunei at 15 : 30 on 22 October 1944 , heading east into the Sulu Sea and then to the northeast into the Mindanao Sea . Intending to join Vice @-@ Admiral Takeo Kurita 's force in Leyte Gulf , they passed west of Mindanao Island into Surigao Strait , where they met a large force of battleships , cruisers and destroyers lying in wait . The Battle of Surigao Strait would become the southernmost action in the Battle of Leyte Gulf . 
