 On 14 January , an Express mission of nine destroyers delivered the Yano Battalion , designated as the rear guard for the Ke evacuation , to Guadalcanal . The battalion , commanded by Major Keiji Yano , consisted of 750 infantry and a battery of mountain guns crewed by another 100 men . Accompanying the battalion was Lieutenant Colonel <unk> Imoto , representing the 8th Area Army , who was to deliver the evacuation order and plan to Hyakutake . The 17th Army had not yet been informed of the decision to withdraw . CAF and 13th Air Force air attacks on the nine destroyers during their return trip damaged destroyers Arashi and Tanikaze and destroyed eight Japanese fighters escorting the convoy . Five American aircraft were shot down . 
