Japan captured large tonnage British owned or chartered ships for own use according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 16 March 1942

An item reported that the Japanese captured since 7 December 1941 206,000 tons of British-Allied owned or chartered merchant ships and of which 160,000 tons could immediately be used.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 96 dated 16 March 1942.