Two days later, she negotiated the Surigao Strait, crossed the Mindanao Sea, rounded the southern end of Negros, and headed north to support the Lingayen invasion. There were many tense moments because the Japanese were expected to launch land-based torpedo bombers across the narrow straits, but this fear proved groundless. On the afternoon of the 4th, however, was struck by a Japanese suicide aircraft. The escort aircraft carrier burst into flames about 2,000 yards from "Suamico" and was later abandoned and sunk by American destroyers.