Task Force Question...

[Cheapshot]

As I slipped out of Pearl on March 12 '42, I've found myself in the midst of a nice sized American task force consisting of around a dozen destroyers, 3-4 Cruisers, two flat-tops, and several support ships. My current orders are to patrol east of Honshu, near Tokyo, yet the task force is steaming southwest at a modest 12 kts.

The chance to be involved in a full scale naval battle is damn sure enticing, yet I don't want to run point for this force for a month with nothing to show for it....but the timing and heading are 'roughly' right for some serious action around the Coral sea. :hmm:

We are only 4 days out of Pearl now, and I could easily turn west-northwest toward Japan without concern for fuel. I could also run through to Brisbane to refuel before heading on to my assigned area if I have to. Soooo I'm very curious...are task forces usually on the way to an engagment or just randomly patrolling?