 In mid-July 1945, various shipping ports, cities, and military facilities in Hokkaido were attacked by the United States Navy's Task Force 38.On 14–15 July that year, aircraft operating from the task force's aircraft carriers sank and damaged a large number of ships in ports along Hokkaido's southern coastline as well as in northern Honshu.In addition, on 15 July a force of three battleships and two light cruisers bombarded the city of Muroran.