However just prior to the pivital battle of the java sea Vice Admiral Kondo had detached the Battleship Kongo and Haruna, two heavy cruisers and two destroyer from the main body to hunt shipping escaping from the region. If the Japanese were aware of the presence of battleship we can safetly assume that this detachment would remain with the main body.

As I understand the optics on IJN ship were excellent but only managed to develop shipbourne radar during the very late stages of the war. The Prince of Wales had blindfire capacity for it's main armament and limited fire control for it's secondary and anti-air batteries and a surface scanning radar(which unfortunately was not operable when it was sunk). Had they had the Prince of Wales ABDA would have had a tremendous range advantage but would it been enough to withstanded a much stronger fleet?