In January 1942, "Aotaka" was assigned to ”Operation H” (the invasion of the Celebes in the Netherlands East Indies), supporting landings at Kendari and Makassar, and later supporting ”Operation J”, the invasion Java and Bali. On March 10, "Aotaka" was reassigned to the Second Southern Expeditionary Fleet, spending much of the rest of the year escorting convoys between Surabaya, and Singapore, from its base at Makassar.