On 9 December 1941, "Yura" and her squadron were ordered to pursue and sink the Royal Navy "Force Z" (the battleship , battlecruiser and supporting destroyers). Although "Yura" received word from the submarine that the British ships were spotted, due to poor wireless reception, the location was unclear and the British vessels were overwhelmed by torpedo bombers of the IJN 22nd Air Flotilla from bases in Indochina before "Yura" and her submarines could take action.