An item reported that a Japanese convoy numbering 17 ships included the escort of 2 destroyers departed in the morning of 20 February Sindjai, southern Celebes, Dutch East Indies probably for Bali or Timor, Dutch East Indies.
Source
Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. MR0423. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 73 dated 21 February 1942
An item referred to SPENAVO London reporting that in the vicinity of Portuguese Timor two [Japanese] submarines were sighted of which Australia claimed to have sunk one.
Source
Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration) mr0422a. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 8 dated 18 December 1941.
An item reported that a Portuguese convoy bound for Timor (1) stayed away from the area after the Japanese warned them about the naval battle off Java, Dutch East Indies.(2) The convoy arrived not earlier as 4 March. The J.I.C. commented that the convoy shipped 610 military 50% Portuguese 50% African.
Notes
1. Timor was half Dutch, half Portuguese owned.
2. Between 27 February and 1 March was the Allied ABDA Strike Force eliminated by the Japanese navy.
Source
Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 83 dated 3 March 1942.
An item reported that the Portuguese gunboat Patria (1) visited Surabaya between 28 January-3 February, Makasser on 17 February, Surabaya between 19-23 February, Timor Koepang between 5-7 September and again Surabaya 20 September-? 1912.(2)
Notes
1. Her building was financed with money collected by Portuguese emigrants living in Brazil. Launched at Arsendal de Marinha de Lisboa, Portugal on 27 June 1903, completed in 1905. Sold at Macao in 1931 to China to be used in the so-called Canton squadron, renamed Fu Yu and finally sunk by aircraft of the Japanese aircraft carriers Ryujo and Hosoho off Canton in the end of September 1937.
2. The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 29 January 1912 reported the arrival of the Patria coming van Hong Kong and bound for Timor. Another Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag dated 23 February 1912 reported her arrival at Makasser coming from Timor for bunkering water and coals which however was refused unless a deposit at the bank was realized. She returned empty-handed towards Timor. The Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 9 September 1912 reported that the Portuguese governor of Dilly, Portuguese Timor visited Dutch Timor on board of the warship Patria. The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 21 September 1912 reported her arrival. The edition dated 30 September 1912 referred to her visiting Macasser with on board the Portuguese governor of Portuguese Timor. She was to arrive on the 5th at 08:00 o’clock at Koepang but was not earlier sighted as in the afternoon before 2 hours she anchored. Her speed which was normally 16,5 miles was decreased due to problems with the complicated Niclausse-boilers. With a tonnage of more as 700 tons and 2 funnels had she a typical appearance with a high fore and a low aft ship and painted pearl grey. The armament consisted of 12 guns. The next day at 00:30 o’clock departed the Patria back to Dilly. Despite Portugal was nowadays a republic were the caps of the officers still decorated with an anchor and crown just like the buttons of their uniforms. At Koepang was at that moment the Dutch flotilla vessel Hr.Ms. Mataram lying. The edition dated 8 October 1912 reported that she was lying at Tandjong Priok or Surabaya. A day earlier flagged the 4 Dutch warships there lying to commemorate the founding of the Portuguese republic.
Source
Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1911-1912
An item dated Lisbon, Portugal 4th referred to a telegram of the Joao Belo that everything was well on board. She was a 6.385 ton measuring Portuguese steamship underway with troops embarked towards Timor-Dilly. She was escorted by the 966 ton measuring Portuguese gunboat Gonçalves Zarco (1) armed with 3-11,9cm/4,7” guns and also transporting soldiers.
Note
F476. Also called an aviso 2nd class/sloop 2nd class designed for service in the colonies. Laid down by Hawthorn, Leslie, Hebburn near Newcastle, United Kingdom with yard number 584 on 9 October 1931, launched on 28 November 1932, commissioned on 17 August 1933, decommissioned in 1961, became an auxiliary survey vessel and broken up in 1964. Of the Gonçalves Zarco-class.
