Logistical support of Allied offensive operations on the north coast of New Guinea by sea required establishment of a port west of Milne Bay at Oro Bay and a route by which large ships could pass through the largely uncharted and hazardous waters between. Small vessels transporting supplies in the early stages and survey vessels found that route and convoys code named Operation Lilliput were put into place to run two large ships under escort of one or two corvettes to Oro Bay in what were termed "flights" and given numbers. "Van Heemskerk" took part in a simultaneous, specialized operation code named Accountant that was to transport the United States Army 162nd Regiment, 41st Division, from Australia to the Buna-Gona operations area. The ship was then to join the regular Lilliput convoy system as flight number 28.