 In June 1942 , Mutsu and Nagato were assigned to the Main Body of the 1st Fleet during the Battle of Midway , together with Yamato , Hōshō , the light cruiser Sendai and nine destroyers . Following the loss of all four fleet carriers of the " Kido Butai " on 4 June , Yamamoto attempted to lure the American forces west to within range of the Japanese air groups at Wake Island , and into a night engagement with his surface forces , but the American forces withdrew and Mutsu saw no action . After rendezvousing with the remnants of the Striking Force on 6 June , over half of the survivors from the sunken aircraft carriers of the 1st Air Fleet were transferred to Mutsu and Nagato . They arrived at Hashirajima on 14 June . 
