 On 8 January 1945 , Alaska left California for Hawaii , arriving in Pearl Harbor on 13 January . There she participated in further training and was assigned to Task Group 12 @.@ 2 , which departed for Ulithi on 29 January . The Task Group reached Ulithi on 6 February and was merged into Task Group 58 @.@ 5 , part of Task Force 58 , the Fast Carrier Task Force . Task Group 58 @.@ 5 was assigned to provide anti @-@ aircraft defense for the aircraft carriers ; Alaska was assigned to the carriers Enterprise and Saratoga . The fleet sailed for Japan on 10 February to conduct air strikes against Tokyo and the surrounding airfields . The Japanese did not attack the fleet during the operation . Alaska was then transferred to Task Group 58 @.@ 4 and assigned to support the assault on Iwo Jima . She served in the screen for the carriers off Iwo Jima for nineteen days , after which time she had to return to Ulithi to replenish fuel and supplies . 
