 Despite the expensive reconstructions , both vessels were considered obsolete by the eve of the Pacific War , and neither saw significant action in the early years of the war . Following the loss of most of the IJN 's large aircraft carriers during the Battle of Midway in mid @-@ 1942 , they were rebuilt with a flight deck replacing the rear pair of gun turrets to give them the ability to operate an air group of floatplanes . A lack of aircraft and qualified pilots , however , meant that they never actually operated their aircraft in combat . While awaiting their air group the sister ships were sometimes used to ferry troops and material to Japanese bases . They participated in the Battle of Cape Engaño in late 1944 , where they decoyed the American carrier fleet supporting the invasion of Leyte away from the landing beaches . Afterwards both ships were transferred to Southeast Asia ; in early 1945 they participated in Operation Kita , where they transported petrol and other strategic materials to Japan . The sisters were then reduced to reserve until they were sunk during American airstrikes in July . After the war they were scrapped in 1946 – 47 . 
 Despite the expensive reconstructions , both vessels <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> considered obsolete by the eve of the Pacific War , and neither saw significant action in the early years of the war . Following the loss of most of the IJN <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>large aircraft carriers during the Battle of Midway in mid @-@ 1942 , they <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> rebuilt with a flight deck replacing the rear pair of gun turrets to give them the ability to operate an air group of floatplanes . A lack of aircraft and qualified pilots , however , meant that they never actually operated their aircraft in combat . While awaiting their air group the sister ships <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> sometimes used to ferry troops and material to Japanese bases . They participated in the Battle of Cape Engaño in late 1944 , where they decoyed the American carrier fleet supporting the invasion of Leyte away from the landing beaches . Afterwards both ships <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> transferred to Southeast Asia ; in early 1945 they participated in Operation Kita , where they transported petrol and other strategic materials to Japan . The sisters <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> then reduced to reserve until they <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> sunk during American airstrikes in July . After the war they <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> scrapped in 1946 – 47 . 
Despite the expensive reconstructions , both vessels was considered obsolete by the eve of the Pacific War , and neither saw significant action in da early years of the war . Following the loss of most of the IJN  large aircraft carriers during the Battle of Midway in mid @-@ 1942 , they was rebuilt w a flight deck replacing the rear pair of gun turrets to give em the ability to operate an air group of floatplanes . A lack of aircraft and qualified pilots , however , ment that they never actually operated their aircraft in combat . While awaiting their air group the sis ships was sometimes used to ferry troops and material to Japanese bases . They participated in the Battle of Cape Engaño in late 1944 , where they decoyed the American carrier fleet supporting tdainvasion of Leyte away from thdaanding beaches . Afterwards both ships was transferred to Southeast Asia ; in early 1945 they participated in Operation Kita , where they transported petrol and other strategic materials to Japan . The sisters was then reduced to reserve till they was sunk during American airstrikes in July . After the war they was scrapped in 1946 – 47 .