▁searches , ▁this ▁force ▁failed ▁to ▁make ▁contact ▁with ▁the ▁American ▁striking ▁force ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁Tru k . ▁ ▁In ▁response ▁to ▁the ▁Al lied ▁land ings ▁on ▁B oug ain ville ▁on ▁ 1 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁At ago ▁and ▁several ▁other ▁Japanese ▁cru is ers ▁were ▁sent ▁to ▁R aba ul ▁to ▁prepare ▁to ▁attack ▁the ▁Al lied ▁landing ▁forces . ▁On ▁ 5 ▁November , ▁while ▁ref uel ing ▁at ▁R aba ul , ▁the ▁task ▁force ▁was ▁attacked ▁by ▁ 9 7 ▁plan es ▁from ▁the ▁carri ers ▁ ▁and ▁. ▁At ago ▁sust ained ▁three ▁near - miss es ▁by ▁ ▁bomb s ▁that ▁killed ▁ 2 2 ▁crew men , ▁including ▁her ▁ski pper ▁Captain ▁N aka oka ▁who ▁was ▁hit ▁by ▁a ▁bomb ▁spl inter ▁while ▁on ▁the ▁bridge . ▁On ▁ 1 5 ▁November , ▁At ago ▁returned ▁to ▁Y ok os uka ▁for ▁rep airs , ▁during ▁which ▁time ▁a ▁Type ▁ 2 2 ▁surface - search ▁rad ar ▁set , ▁along ▁with ▁additional ▁Type ▁ 9 6 ▁ 2 5   mm ▁anti - air craft ▁guns ▁were ▁installed . ▁ ▁In ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 4 , ▁At ago ▁returned ▁to ▁Tru k . ▁On ▁ 1 0 ▁February , ▁the ▁cru iser ▁force ▁was ▁attacked ▁by ▁the ▁American ▁sub marine ▁ ▁in ▁a ▁night ▁surface ▁attack , ▁but ▁she ▁missed ▁with ▁four ▁tor ped o es . ▁At ago ▁was ▁then ▁re ass igned ▁to