"Louisville" became the first large US ship to enter Philippine waters since 12 December 1941. On October 21, 1944, while "Louisville" was bombarding Leyte she was hit by the "kamikaze" plane shrapnel killing one crewmember. On 25 October 1944, she was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, participating in the last engagement of a battleline as the Japanese southern force attempted to force its way into Leyte Gulf through Surigao Strait. Admiral Oldendorf deployed the American battleline across the strait and PT boats and destroyers on either side of the narrow body of water, defeating the Japanese ships as they passed through the strait.