The Battle of Leyte Gulf was fought during October 23-26, 1944, in response to the attempt of Japanese naval forces to disrupt and destroy U.S. landings on the Philippine island of Leyte. The Battle of Leyte Gulf developed into the largest naval battle of any war and was also distinguished by the first kamikaze attacks.

Learning where the American landings on Leyte were to take place, Admiral Toyoda Soemu, commander in charge of the Japanese Combined Fleet, launched Operation Sho-Go (Victory), by which he intended to draw the Third U.S. Fleet (under Admiral William "Bull" Halsey) into battle north of Leyte Gulf so that the Japanese naval forces could catch the landing forces as well as the smaller Seventh U.S. Fleet (under Vice Admiral Thomas Kinkaid), which was covering the landing, in a massive double envelopment, or pincers. Whereas in previous battles, U.S. Navy commanders had enjoyed the advantage of Ultra decrypts, which gave them extensive knowledge of Japanese radio communications, the Japanese changed codes before Leyte Gulf and maintained a high degree of radio silence. Toyoda's trap very nearly succeeded.

Toyoda assigned Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo, commander in charge of the Mobile Force, tactical command of Operation Sho-Go. Ozawa divided his ships, including the two largest battleships ever built, Yamato and Masashi, five conventional battleships, and 16 cruisers, into two striking forces, under Vice Admirals Kurita Takeo and Kiyohicle Shima. Ozawa himself led a decoy fleet, including four aircraft carriers, to lure Halsey to the north while Kurita and Shima closed the pincers. A portion of Shima's force, in company with a number of Kurita's ships (under Vice Admiral Shejo Nishimura), were detailed to sail into the Leyte Gulf via Surigao Strait, while Kurita approached the gulf by way of the San Bernardino Strait. The rest of Shima's force escorted Japanese troop reinforcements to Leyte Island.

On October 24, Task Force 38, under Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher, launched air strikes against Kurita as his ships crossed the Sibuyan Sea, sinking one battleship, damaging others, and prompting Kurita to reverse course for a time. Kurita's excess of caution put him behind schedule, but Halsey overestimated the damage that had been done to him and discounted Kurita as a threat. This played into the Sho-Go plan. With Kurita apparently out of the way, Halsey pursued Ozawa's decoy fleet. . .

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