Between 23–25 October 1944 four RAN warships – HMA Ships "Australia", "Shropshire", , and – took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history. In the lead-up, on 21 October, "Australia" became the first Allied ship to be hit by a kamikaze aircraft near Leyte Island. Gunners from "Australia" and "Shropshire" fired at, and reportedly hit, an unidentified Japanese aircraft. The plane then flew away from the ships, before turning and flying into "Australia", striking the ship's superstructure above the bridge, and spewing burning fuel and debris over a large area, before falling into the sea. A bomb carried by the plane failed to explode; if it had, the ship might have been effectively destroyed. At least 30 crew members died as a result of the attack, including the commanding officer, Captain Emile Dechaineux; among the wounded was Commodore John Collins, the Australian force commander. "Australia" remained on duty, but on 25 October, was hit again and was forced to retire to the New Hebrides for repairs.