 Nagato transferred to Truk in the Caroline Islands in August 1943 . Together with the bulk of the 1st Fleet , she sortied in September and October in unsuccessful searches for American carriers . On 1 February 1944 , Nagato departed Truk to avoid an American air raid , and arrived at Palau three days later . The ship arrived on 21 February at Lingga Island , near Singapore , and she became the flagship of Vice Admiral Matome Ugaki , commander of Battleship Division 1 , on 25 February until he transferred his flag to Yamato on 5 May . Nagato remained at Lingga until 11 May when she was transferred to Tawitawi on 12 May , and assigned to the 1st Mobile Fleet , under the command of Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa . 
