On 25 January 1943, "Atago" returned to Truk to continue Japanese efforts to hold the Solomon Islands, and eventually to support the evacuation of Guadalcanal. The force consisted of the carriers , and , the battleships and , heavy cruisers "Atago", "Takao", and , the light cruisers and , and 11 destroyers. The Japanese transports were successful in evacuating 11,700 troops from the island.