Tokyo Express

Tokyo Express
Japanese troops load onto a warship in preparation for a "Tokyo Express" run sometime in 1942.
Active	August 1942 – November 1943
Country	Empire of Japan
Allegiance	Axis Powers of World War II
Branch	Imperial Japanese Navy
Type	Ad hoc military logistics organization
Role	Supply and reinforcement to Japanese Army and Navy units located in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea
Size	Varied
Garrison/HQ	Rabaul, New Britain Shortland Islands and Buin, Solomon Islands
Nickname(s)	Cactus Express "Rat" or "ant" transportation (Japanese names)
Engagements	Battle of Cape Esperance Battle of Tassafaronga Operation Ke Battle of Blackett Strait Battle of Kula Gulf Battle of Kolombangara Battle of Vella Gulf Battle off Horaniu Naval Battle of Vella Lavella Battle of Cape St. George
Commanders
Notable commanders	Gunichi Mikawa Raizo Tanaka Shintarō Hashimoto Matsuji Ijuin

Coordinates: 9°00′S 159°45′E / 9.000°S 159.750°E / -9.000; 159.750 The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel, supplies, and equipment to Japanese forces operating in and around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The operation involved loading personnel or supplies aboard fast warships (mainly destroyers), later submarines, and using the warships' speed to deliver the personnel or supplies to the desired location and return to the originating base all within one night so Allied aircraft could not intercept them by day.

The original name of the resupply missions was "The Cactus Express", coined by Allied forces on Guadalcanal, using the codename for the island. After the U.S. press began referring to it as the "Tokyo Express," apparently in order to preserve operational security for the codeword "Cactus," Allied forces also began to use the phrase. The Japanese called the night resupply missions Rat Transportation (鼠輸送, nezumi yusō^?), because they took place at night.