Jisaburō Ozawa
"Wichita" was present during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which started on 23 October. On 25 October, the Fast Carrier Strike Force had steamed north, to attack the Northern Force commanded by Jisaburō Ozawa. "Wichita" again screened for the carriers, which sank or damaged several Japanese carriers. Task Force 34 was detached to finish off several of the crippled Japanese ships with gunfire; "Wichita" and three other cruisers sank the light carrier and the destroyer . "Wichita" expended twenty-two percent of her armor-piercing rounds at the two ships, which amounted to 148 rounds at "Chiyoda" and 173 against "Hatsuzuki". In the aftermath of the battle, "Wichita" returned to screening for the carriers off Samar. On 28 October, she provided gunfire support to troops ashore on Leyte. Two days later, she defended against a Japanese airstrike on the fleet.