at least seven vessels during this operation. On 27 February 1942, Fubuki was assigned to "Operation J", covering forces landing on the western portion of Java. On 1 March, the Australian cruiser and American cruiser sailed at top speed to Sunda Strait and encountered Fubuki at about 22.30, which was guarding the Eastern approaches, she fired nine torpedoes at about and retreated. During the Battle of Sunda Strait Perth and Houston were both sunk. Fubuki has often been accused of launching the torpedo spread that accidentally sank four Japanese transports and a minesweeper during this battle, but recent research indicates the cruiser the more likely agent. On 12 March 1942, Fubuki was part of the escort Admiral Jizaburo Ozawa's cover force for "Operation T" (the invasion of northern Sumatra). On 23 March, she escorted Admiral Ozawa's cover force for the "Operation D", the invasion of the Andaman Islands; then she served patrol and escort duties out of Port Blair (Andaman Islands) during the Japanese raids into the Indian Ocean. On 13–22 April she returned from Singapore via Camranh Bay to Kure Naval Arsenal, then docked for maintenance. On 4–5 June 1942, Fubuki participated in the Battle of Midway as part of the escort for Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's Main Body. Fubuki provided antiaircraft protection during the American air attacks, which sank and badly damaged Mogami. On 30 June–2 July 1942, Fubuki escorted a troop convoy from Kure to Amami-Ōshima, then conducted antisubmarine patrols there. On 17–31 July, Fubuki sailed from Amami-Ōshima via Mako, Singapore and Sabang to Mergui (Burma) for Indian Ocean raiding operations, which were aborted due to the American invasion of Guadalcanal. On 8–17 August, Fubuki went from Mergui via Makassar to Davao. On 19–23 August, she escorted a troop transport convoy from Davao to Truk, and was then sent into the Solomon Islands theater of operations. On 27–31 August, she escorted the transport Sado Maru from Rabaul to the Shortland Islands, followed by a pair of "Tokyo Express" troop transport run to Guadalcanal. On 2 September, Fubuki was part of the force which bombarded Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, as cover for the troop transport run. There was another troop transport run on 5 September and another attack mission on 8 September. On 12–13 September, Fubuki provided gunfire support against US Marine positions on Guadalcanal in support of the Kawaguchi offensive. This was followed by five more troop transport