1-15 January 1942
Singapore: The RN stayed in port but repaired the PoW (yet another 12). The WAF on the other hand ranged triumphantly over the South China Sea, sortieing three successful invasion convoys against Singora (third Malayan Convoy), Kuching and Jesselton on Borneo. The Singapore Index advanced to 3.
The EAF sortied three invasion convoys and a carrier group in the Eastern Axis leaving the Center Axis devoid of IJN Forces. The Dutch sortie out of Batavia into the Center Axis thus struck air. TF5 from Surabaya (now at full strength) and Force X (w/HMAS Vampire attached) tried to oppose the Japanese Advance; both being found by Japanese LBA and bombed.
TF 5 was fist attacked by 6 flights of Nells and 9 flights of Bettys. They shot down a Betty. The subsequent level bombing failed to straddle. Then it was Force X’s turn. Again, 6 Nells and now 13 Bettys attacked. There were 3 straddles that missed resulting in no damage.
It was now RAdm Kakuta’s Air Group’s turn. 4 flights of Kates attacked TF5 and USS Houston managed to evade. Kakuta also attacked Force X for no loss and now it was Suffren that evaded a torpedo.
TF5 failed to contact RAdm Takagi’s invasion convoy against Ambon but Force X found it that same night. Force X and the IJN would maul one another but Ambon would fall. TF5 would fail to contact either of the invasion convoys against Menado and Kendari on Celebes. Both would fall.
