Force Z sails into history

For the 80th anniversary of the Malaya-Singapore campaign I won't be repeating what I've done in previous years as in we won't be doing a blow by blow of the major events. At least not all of them. Instead I'll try and flesh out some of the lesser known aspects of the people and events of the campaign based on where we are in the timeline. For example, we'll look at Force Z, the construction of HM Naval Base Sembawang and the Singapore Strategy over the next few days. I hope you will find them equal parts interesting and useful.

08-12-1941/1735hrs local
Force Z, comprising HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse escorted by 4 DDs will slip their moorings at HM Naval Base Sembawang. Aboard PoW, Admiral Sir Tom Phillips intends to head east into the South China Sea before turning north into the Gulf of Thailand after having passed the Anambas Islands. His intention is to intercept the Japanese invasion fleet off Kota Bahru.

Photo is courtesy of @AWMemorial and highlights an event for which PoW isn't as widely known. Photo caption follows.
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ARGENTIA, NEWFOUNDLAND. 1941-08-10. AT THE ATLANTIC CHARTER MEETING THE CAPTAIN OF THE BATTLESHIP HMS PRINCE OF WALES WELCOMES UNITED STATES PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT ABOARD. CAPTAIN ELLIOTT ROOSEVELT USAAF IS AT HIS FATHER'S SIDE ACTING AS HIS AIDE. IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE DESTROYER USS MCDOUGAL. NOTE HER TWIN 5 INCH/38 SINGLE PURPOSE TURRETS. (NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION)