On 9 December 1941, Subron 5 was ordered to pursue and sink the Royal Navy Force Z (battleship , battlecruiser and supporting destroyers). Although "Yura" received word from that the British ships were spotted, due to poor wireless reception, the signal was unclear and the British vessels were overwhelmed by torpedo bombers of the 22nd Air Flotilla from bases in Indochina before "Yura" and her submarines could take action.