A fire quickly spread Dispersal among the ships being prepared GetReady for Operation Forager , the invasion Attack of the Japanese-held Mariana Islands .

The cruisers departed Departing Japanese-held territory on 1 March with the support of other IJN vessels and aircraft .

Despite continuing to occupy part of China 's territory , Japan eventually surrendered Surrendering on September 2 , 1945 , to Allied forces following the atomic bombings Attack of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet invasion Attack of Japanese-held Manchuria .