Operation Irregular targets Japanese island logistics

After D-Day, Tartar, Nubian, and Eskimo reinforced the Eastern Fleet as ships were transferred toward the British Pacific Fleet. Their patrol covered approaches in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal connected with projected operations toward Singapore and the Japanese-held Nicobar Islands. A report from the T-class submarine HMS Trident led them to a Japanese auxiliary or landing ship and a small submarine chaser near Sabang. When the targets separated, Jones assigned Nubian to the chaser while Tartar and Eskimo pursued the transport. He judged the logistics vessel more important because its loss would disrupt seaborne resupply and further weaken the Japanese position in the Nicobars. He ranked the landing ship's carrying capacity above the escort's combat role because the Japanese garrison depended on supplies moved by sea.