Battle of the Komandorski Islands
During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 27 August, "Mutsu", assigned to the Support Force, fired four shells at enemy reconnaissance aircraft during what was her first, and only, action of the war. On 7 January 1943, "Mutsu" returned to Japan together with the carrier , the heavy cruiser and four destroyers. The ship prepared to sortie on 13 April to reinforce the Japanese garrisons in the Aleutian Islands in response to the Battle of the Komandorski Islands, but the operation was cancelled the next day and "Mutsu" resumed training.