On 12 January 1942 "Phoenix" with two destroyers departed San Francisco escorting the "Australian — Suva" convoy composed of the troopships , for Melbourne and (destined for Suva) in the first large convoy to Australia after Pearl Harbor. Of particular significance this convoy were the troops, fifty crated P-40 fighter aircraft intended for the Philippines and Java, munitions, supplies and the officers selected by the War Department to form the core of what was to become MacArthur's headquarters in the Southwest Pacific Area Command being formed in Australia as United States Army Forces in Australia (USAFIA), known as the "Remember Pearl Harbor" Group. For some time the cruiser operated in Australian waters escorting troop ships, once steaming as far north as Java.