Of the 110 aircraft launched by the Japanese carriers, only 67 returned to Zuikaku. She then returned to the home islands via Truk for training and aircraft ferrying duties. left|thumb|Zuikaku launching a Kate torpedo bomber in September of 1944. In February 1943, she covered the evacuation of Japanese ground forces from Guadalcanal. In May, she was assigned to a mission to counterattack the American offensive in the Aleutian Islands, but this operation was cancelled after the Allied victory on Attu on 29 May 1943. Later in 1943, under the command of Captain Kikuchi Tomozo, she was again based at Truk and operated against U.S. forces in the Marshall Islands, but never managed to see combat throughout the rest of the year.
of the 110 aircraft launched by the japanese carriers only 67 returned to zuikaku she then returned to the home islands via truk for training and aircraft ferrying duties left|thumb|zuikaku launching a kate torpedo bomber in september of 1944 in february 1943 she covered the evacuation of japanese ground forces from guadalcanal in may she was assigned to a mission to counterattack the american offensive in the aleutian islands but this operation was cancelled after the allied victory on attu on 29 may 1943 later in 1943 under the command of captain kikuchi tomozo she was again based at truk and operated against us forces in the marshall islands but never managed to see combat throughout the rest of the year