In early 1943, "Takao" supported the evacuation of Guadalcanal. The force consisted of the carriers , and , the battleships and , heavy cruisers "Atago", "Takao", "Myōkō" and "Haguro", the light cruisers "Nagara" and , and 11 destroyers. The Japanese transports were successful in evacuating 11,700 troops from the island.