▁an ▁improved ▁design : ▁the ▁size ▁of ▁the ▁bridge ▁was ▁reduced , ▁the ▁main ▁m ast ▁was ▁re located ▁a ft , ▁and ▁h ull ▁bul ges ▁were ▁added ▁to ▁improve ▁stability . ▁After ▁re building ▁was ▁completed , ▁Tak ao ▁and ▁At ago ▁pat rolled ▁off ▁the ▁coast ▁of ▁China ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁and ▁early ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁She ▁was ▁commanded ▁by ▁Captain ▁Tom iji ▁Ko yan agi ▁from ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁to ▁July ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁ ▁From ▁ 1 1 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁At ago ▁was ▁commanded ▁by ▁Captain ▁M ats u ji ▁I ju in , ▁and ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁November ▁was ▁made ▁flags hip ▁of ▁Vice ▁Admir al ▁Nob ut ake ▁K ond ō ' s ▁Sent ai - 4 , ▁along ▁with ▁sister ▁ships ▁May a , ▁Ch ō ka i , ▁and ▁Tak ao . ▁ ▁Pacific ▁War ▁At ▁the ▁time ▁of ▁the ▁attack ▁on ▁Pear l ▁Har bor , ▁At ago ▁had ▁sort ied ▁from ▁M ako ▁Guard ▁District ▁in ▁the ▁P esc adores ▁Islands ▁to ▁provide ▁support ▁for ▁Japanese ▁land ings ▁in ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁Mal aya ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁invasion ▁of ▁the ▁Philippines . ▁ ▁From ▁January – M arch ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁At ago ▁was ▁based ▁out ▁of ▁Pal au , ▁and ▁was ▁involved ▁in ▁operations ▁to ▁se ize ▁the ▁oil - rich ▁Netherlands ▁East ▁Ind ies , ▁particip ating ▁in ▁numerous