The catapult was situated aft, in between the No.5 and No.6 turrets. From 1933-1934, the ships were renovated with a modified superstructure, replacing the canvas sides of the bridge with steel plate, and building a rangefinder tower behind the bridge was with either an or rangefinder. "Kiso" was also given anti-rain caps on her two forward stacks, which gave her a unique appearance. By 1941, the 8-cm Type 3 guns were replaced by a twin-mount Type 96 25 mm AA guns, and the 6.5 mm machine guns were upgraded to 13.2 mm. All of the ships in the "Kuma" class were progressively upgraded during the Pacific War. The modifications varied from vessel to vessel, but consisted of removing the aircraft catapult and at least one of the main 140-mm turrets, and replacing with twin or triple-mount Type 96 25-mm anti-aircraft guns. From 1943-1944, "Kiso" and "Tama" were given a twin turret with 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval guns. "Kiso", "Tama" and "Kitakami" were the only in the class to receive radar. In August 1941 "Ōi", "Kitakami" and "Kiso" were to undergo a conversion to "torpedo cruisers" to form a special torpedo attack squadron, but not enough Type 92 quadruple torpedo mounts were available so only the first two were converted, both ships three aft turrets were replaced by ten quadruple torpedo mounts, five per side, with a total of 40 torpedoes. In August 1942, they were modified into fast transports, with all of the torpedo tubes removed and replaced by Daihatsu class landing craft, with depth charge racks and two Type 96 triple-mount anti-aircraft guns. After "Kitakami" was damaged in 1944, she was converted into a "kaiten" carrier, with all of her armament removed, and replaced by two Type 89 single gun turrets (fore and aft), a total of 67 Type 96 anti-aircraft guns(12 triple, 31 single), two depth charge racks and eight Model 1 Kaiten. Removal of the aft turbine engines reduced her speed to 23 knots. Five vessels were built in the "Kuma" class. Only one ("Kitakami") survived the Pacific War. Ordered in 1917 to the Sasebo Navy Yard, launched 14 July 1919, and completed 31 August 1920, "Kuma" was active in screening the landings of Japanese troops in the Philippines in the early months of World War II, and remained stationed there for local defense.