In 1943, the four ships spent some time in Japan, then deployed to Truk and New Britain. On 5 November 1943, while anchored in Rabaul harbor, "Takao", "Atago" and "Maya" were damaged by American aircraft from Rear-Admiral Sherman's Task Force (TF) 38, comprising the carriers USS "Saratoga" and USS "Princeton", escorted by two anti-aircraft cruisers and nine destroyers. A follow-up attack on 11 November by TF 38 and additional U.S. carriers damaged more Japanese ships, and all three ships had to return to Japan for repairs. During these repairs, "Maya" was modified to become an anti-aircraft cruiser.