1 March 1942

The Japanese submarine I-25 continues to terrorise the Australian east coast, now sending its float plane on a reconnaissance flight over Hobart. Again the flight is completed before the anti-aircraft defences can react.

In the Battle of the Sunda Strait, HMAS Perth, along with the US Navy cruiser Houston, attempt to attack Japanese transport ships off Bantam Bay.

Both Allied ships are trapped by an overwhelming force of Japanese cruisers, destroyers and submarines. The Allied pair fight until they run out of ammunition. Both are sunk. The Perth loses 353 killed, including her skipper Hec Waller. Around 320 become POWs (of these one third will die in captivity).