On 6 February, with Japanese advances on the city itself in progress, the ships began operations toward Abang Island with particular orders to ensure destruction of radar sets and electronic equipment aboard the bombed and stranded ship "Loch Ranza". "Bendigo" left Singapore at 21:20 to act as lightship for an outgoing convoy followed by "Wollongong", the last Australian warship to leave the city, at midnight. After finding "Loch Ranza" burned out and sunk the ships made their way along the coast of Sumatra, hiding in inlets from air search, finally joining and at Palembang on the afternoon of 11 February.