Admiral Kurita's Center Force discovered Admiral Sprague's Task Force 3 consisting of escort carriers and destroyers. The American force was unprepared for naval combat and attempted to disengage. Kurita's force continued to close and inflict damage to the American ships but it disengaged before decisive results were achieved because Kurita feared the presence of more powerful American forces (which were in fact not there). Had Kurita pursued, he might have reached the US transports off Leyte. Among the first Kamikaze attacks took place during this battle.