 His ships were also busy convoying Lend-Lease material to the Soviet Union, as well as fighting the Japanese in the Pacific.King could not require coastal black-outs—the Army had legal authority over all civil defence—and did not follow advice the Royal Navy (or Royal Canadian Navy) provided that even unescorted convoys would be safer than merchants sailing individually.No troop transports were lost, but merchant ships sailing in US waters were left exposed and suffered accordingly.