 The IJN then decided to use the sisters and their escorts to bring a load of petrol , rubber , tin and other strategic minerals back to Japan after the American carriers departed the South China Sea ( Operation Kita ) . They loaded their cargoes beginning on 6 February at Singapore and departed four days later . Also carrying some 1 @,@ 150 oilfield workers , they were escorted by Ōyodo and three destroyers . Decrypted Japanese radio signals revealed the Japanese plan to the Allies , and 15 submarines were positioned along their anticipated route in an attempt to intercept and sink the ships . An additional 11 were moved into position while the group was en route , but only three were ultimately able to attack . None of them were successful before the Japanese reached Kure on 20 February . The Fourth Carrier Division was disbanded on 1 March and the sisters were reduced to 1st rank reserve ships . On 19 March Kure was attacked by aircraft from Task Force 58 and Hyūga was hit three times by bombs that killed 37 men and wounded 52 . Her gunners claimed to have shot down one American dive bomber during the attack . Ise was hit twice during the attack , but her casualties , if any , are unknown . 
 The IJN then decided to use the sisters and their escorts to bring a load of petrol , rubber , tin and other strategic minerals back to Japan after the American carriers departed the South China Sea ( Operation Kita ) . They loaded their cargoes beginning on 6 February at Singapore and departed four days later . Also carrying some 1 @,@ 150 oilfield workers , they <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> escorted by Ōyodo and three destroyers . Decrypted Japanese radio signals revealed the Japanese plan to the Allies , and 15 submarines <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> positioned along their anticipated route in an attempt to intercept and sink the ships . An additional 11 <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> moved into position while the group was en route , but only three <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>were</mark></a> ultimately able to attack . <a href='None' title='5'><mark>None</mark></a> of them <a href='negative_concord' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> successful before the Japanese reached Kure on 20 February . The Fourth Carrier Division was disbanded on 1 March and the sisters <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> reduced to 1st rank reserve ships . On 19 March Kure was attacked by aircraft from Task Force 58 and Hyūga was hit three times by bombs <a href='null_relcl' title='8'><mark>that</mark></a>killed 37 men and wounded 52 . Her gunners claimed to <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>have</mark></a> shot down one American dive bomber during the attack . Ise was hit twice during the attack , but her casualties , if any , <a href='drop_aux' title='10'><mark>are</mark></a>unknown . 
The IJN then decided to use da sisters and their escorts to bring a load of petrol , rubber , tin and other strategic minerals bacc to Japan after the American carriers departed the South China Sea ( Operation Kita ) . They loaded their cargoes beginning on 6 February at Singapore and departed four days later . Also carrying sum 1 @,@ 150 oilfield workers , they was escorted by Ōyodo and three destroyers . Decrypted Japanese radio signals revealed the Japanese plan to tdaAllies , and 15 submarines was positioned along their anticipated route in an attempt to intercept and sink the ships . An additional 11 was moved into position while the group was en route , but only three was ultimately able to attack . Don't none of em ain't successful before the Japanese reached Kure on 20 February . Thdaourth Carrier Division was disbanded on 1 March and thedasters was reduced to 1st rank reserve ships . On 19 March Kure was attacked by aircraft from Task Force 58 and Hyūga was hit three times by bombs killed 37 men and wounded 52 . Her gunners claimed to done shot down one American dive bomber during the daack . Ise was hit twice durin the attack , but her casualties , if any , unknown .