Due to the ferocity of the defense, Kurita was convinced that he was facing a far superior force and withdrew from the battle, ending the threat to the troop transports and supply ships.
På grund af forsvarets intensitet var Kurita overbevist om, at han stod over for en styrke, som var langt stærkere end hans egen og trak sig tilbage, hvorved han fjernede truslen mod troppetransport- og forsyningsskibene.