"Whipple" slowly closed and began picking up survivors of "Pecos". After interrupting the proceedings to conduct an unsuccessful attack on a submarine thought to be nearby, she returned to the task and continued the search until she had received 231 men from the oiler. "Whipple" soon cleared the area, believing that a Japanese aircraft carrier was close. Within a few days, Java fell to the Japanese who were gradually consolidating their expanding "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." "Whipple" joined what remained of the Asiatic Fleet in Australian waters.