Takeo Kurita
By 24 October, it was clear that the invasion of Leyte had called forth one last giant effort on the part of the Japanese to annihilate the American fleet. Its three major fleet units moved toward the Philippines for the historic Battle for Leyte Gulf, intending to divert Admiral William F. Halsey's carriers to the northward and strike the assault forces in the gulf a two-pronged death blow. "Healy" joined Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman's Task Group 38.3 (TG 38.3), near Luzon 24 October which was attacked early in the day by land-based aircraft. Planes of the task group struck out at the ships of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita in the Sibuyan Sea, sinking and damaging other heavy units of the Japanese forces.