An item reported that since Java, Dutch East Indies was captured by Japanese forces was their next predicted step an offensive in the Indian Ocean especially against the Andaman Islands, British Indies. The newest intelligence pointed out a movement westwards across the Bay of Bengal with special interest in the Ceylon-Calcutta-Mysores areas. It was calculated that the Japanese were building up a fleet for the Indian ocean including 3-4 battleships, 4 aircraft carriers, 4 heavy and 3 light cruisers, 34 destroyers, 6 converted seaplanes and minimally 10 submarines. The J.I.C. commented that the number of submarine operations was increasing but regarded the great distances needed the Japanese ship-borne aircraft for supporting operations in the British Indies southeast area.
Source
Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 100 dated 20 March 1942
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