 By 23 August , <unk> 's unit had reached <unk> and was loaded onto slow transport ships for the rest of the trip to <unk> . Because of the damage caused by Allied air attack to a separate troop convoy during the Battle of the Eastern <unk> , the Japanese decided not to deliver <unk> 's troops to <unk> by slow transport ship ; instead , the ships carrying <unk> 's soldiers were sent to Rabaul . From there , the Japanese planned to deliver <unk> 's men to <unk> by destroyers , staging through a Japanese naval base in the <unk> Islands . The Japanese destroyers were usually able to make the round trip down " The <unk> " to <unk> and back in a single night , <unk> their exposure to Allied air attack . However , most of the soldiers ' heavy equipment and supplies , such as heavy artillery , vehicles , and much food and ammunition , could not be taken to <unk> with them . These high @-@ speed destroyer runs to <unk> , which occurred throughout the campaign , were later called the " Tokyo Express " by Allied forces and " Rat Transportation " by the Japanese . The Japanese controlled the seas around the Solomon Islands during the nighttime and were not challenged by the Allies . However , any Japanese ship remaining within the 200 mi ( 320 km ) range of the aircraft at Henderson Field in daylight was in great danger from air attacks . This " curious tactical situation " held for several months . 
