Japanese battleship Ise
Despite the expensive reconstruction, the ship was considered obsolete by the eve of the Pacific War, and did not see significant action in the early years of the war. Following the loss of most of the IJN's large aircraft carriers during the Battle of Midway in mid-1942, she was rebuilt with a flight deck replacing the rear pair of gun turrets to give her the ability to operate an air group of floatplanes; lack of aircraft and qualified pilots meant that "Ise" never actually operated her aircraft in combat. She participated in the Battle of Cape Engaño in late 1944, where she decoyed the American carrier fleet supporting the invasion of Leyte away from the landing beaches. Afterwards the ship was transferred to Southeast Asia; in early 1945 "Ise" participated in Operation Kita, where she transported petrol and other strategic materials to Japan. The ship was then reduced to reserve until she was sunk during American airstrikes in July. After the war "Ise" was scrapped in 1946–1947.
SS Ismore
On leaving the port the ship encountered rough seas and high wind and had to put into Moelfre Bay to wait out the weather, where she remained until the evening of November 8. She only was able to proceed as far as Milford Haven as the rough weather persisted and the horses became sick. Finally, the weather improved and "Ismore" departed Milford on November 11. The steamer coaled at Tenerife on November 16, and from there continued directly to Cape Town. The journey was largely uneventful. On December 2 at around noon, the ship's position was determined by observation to be approximately , and the course was set to pass the Dassen Island Lighthouse about 13 miles distant. At around 02:38 on December 3, "Ismore" struck on submerged rocks just off Columbine Point and got stranded. She immediately started to take on water filling her engine room and extinguishing the fires. The lifeboats were lowered and the ship was abandoned. The area where the ship went ashore was littered with rocks and it took a considerable effort to reach land, but, fortunately, the wrecked steamer was only about from the shore, and the military men were able to go back to the ship during the day to retrieve some clothing, ammunition and weapons as well as release some horses. Around 02:30 on December 4 "Ismore" broke amidships with only her stern remaining afloat. Only about twenty horses managed to get ashore with the rest going down with the ship.