On 18 October 1944, "Noshiro" was ordered to Brunei, in preparation for the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which began on 22 October 1944. "Noshiro", as DesRon 2's flagship, sortied with Admiral Kurita's First Mobile Striking Force, Force "A" (Center Force). At the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea on 24 October 1944, Force A was attacked 11 times by over 250 carrier aircraft from Task Force 38 comprising the aircraft carriers , "Lexington", , , and . Although the battleships , , , and the cruisers "Myōkō" and were damaged, "Noshiro" escaped unharmed.