It was as Commander-in-Chief of the IJN 2nd Fleet dubbed "Central Force" during the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea and the Battle off Samar (Both part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf) for which Kurita is best known.
Det var som øverstkommanderende for 2. japanske flåde, kaldet "Centralstyrken" under slaget i Sibuyanhavet og Slaget ved Samar (begge del af slaget om Leyte Gulf) at Kurita er bedst kendt.