Tjilitjap, Java’s last port

After arriving at Tjilatjap we found the harbour brimful of ships. Large freighters, a couple of small passenger ships and a number of Navy vessels of differing nationalities. This time no anchorage a long way from the action but right on the wharf. This typified the distressed situation very well. Without delay the hatches were opened and in great haste the ammunition was being unloaded.
Ass. Engineer Adriaan Kik

Tjilatjap, because of it’s position on the south coast of Java, is the only port in the Dutch East Indies with free access to the Indian Ocean. Or on the more practical side, the only port from where one could possibly escape should the Japanese land on Java. And that is something bound to happen as Sumatra is almost completely invaded.
For several weeks now the defence of the Islands has been in the hands of ABDA-COM that represents the four countries involved: American, British, Dutch, Australian Command. In effect it’s only the navy that’s considered a serious player but because of the Japanese air superiority they can hardly do anything against the, also in numbers, much stronger invasion fleet.

The large Japanese Strike Force Kido Butai.
(source: http://joewight.deviantart.com/art/kido-butai-38655506)

The Kido Butai, the large Japanese fleet with 6 aircraft carriers which had been responsible for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour, carries out an even heavier attack on Darwin in the North of Australia. The city itself but especially the ships in the port and the planes on the airfields are hit hard by more bombs than the Japanese used on Pearl Harbour.
As a consequence Darwin is being evacuated and the only remaining supply route of planes and troops is cut off. The fear of a Japanese invasion of Australia is immense.  
This fleet will play a crucial role the next weeks as ships try to escape the Dutch East Indies.

Merchant Shipping losses in the area:

20 february 
Tobelo (Dutch): The coaster was bombed and sunk at Kupang, Dutch East Indies by Japanese aircraft. She was later salvaged by the Japanese and entered service as Tobi Maru.
22 february 
Pijnacker Hordijk (Dutch): The cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Java Sea south of Tjilatjap, Dutch East Indies by I-58 .
Togian (Dutch): The cargo ship was bombed and damaged in the Timor Sea off Koepang, Dutch East Indies by Japanese aircraft and scuttled. Raised, repaired and put in Japanese service.
24 february 
Kota Radja (Dutch): The cargo ship was bombed and sunk at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies by Japanese aircraft.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shipwrecks_in_February_1942