27 February 1942

Battle of Java Sea

VIVAnews – After successfully overrunning Bali and most of Lesser Sunda Islands, in late February 1942, the Japanese began to set their eyes on Java. The island was considered important to the Japanese since Java served as the main Allies base in Indonesia (then, the Dutch East Indies). Thus, the Japanese occupation of Indonesia could never be completed unless the island was subjugated and brought under their rule.

A huge Japanese convoy, consisting of four cruisers and fourteen destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura, left Makassar for Java on 27 February 1942.

The Allies fleet, which had received report of the approaching Japanese convoy, immediately sailed northeast from Surabaya to intercept them. The Allies navy, consisting of five cruisers and nine destroyers, was commanded by Admiral Karel Doorman, the Allies naval commander.

The Allies sighted the Japanese convoy on 27 February 1942 at 4 p.m.  Sixteen minutes later, a battle broke out between the two navies which lasted until almost midnight. During the fight, the Allies tried everything they could to destroy the Japanese transports but they were continuously repulsed by the Japanese battleships.

After exchanging fires for several hours, the Japanese managed to gain the upper hand. Not long, HMS Exeter, one of the Allies cruisers, had to retire from the battle scene escorted by one of the Allies destroyer, after suffering a critical damage in its boiler.

A moment later, two Allies destroyers, HNLMS Kortanaer and HMS Electra, went down after being hit by Japanese shells and torpedoes. At 6 p.m., the Allies fleet disengaged from the battle in an attempt to outmaneuver the Japanese battleships and attack their transport ships.

Lucky for the Japanese, during such critical time, four US destroyers had to retreat after running out of ammunition. Three hours later, another Allies destroyer, HMS Jupiter was sunk after running into a mine. Soon, the last Allies destroyer, HMS Encounter was also detached from the fleet to pick up survivors from HNLMS Kortanaer, which had sunk earlier.

Despite being totally outnumbered and outgunned, the remaining Allies fleet, consisting of four cruisers, still tried to intercept the Japanese convoy. At 11 p.m., both fleets engaged and exchanged fires again.

This last encounter proved disastrous to the Allies naval force, since its two cruisers, HNLMS De Ruyter and HNLMS Java, went down after being hit by one long lance salvo from the Japanese battleships.

Admiral Doorman, who was aboard on De Ruyter, the Dutch flagship, was killed with most of his crews. In all, the Allies lost two cruisers and three destroyers. The remains of the Allies fleet were either damaged or demoralized.

The Battle of the Java Sea sealed the fate of Java forever. After the island was stripped of its sea defenders, the next day, on 28 February 1942, the Japanese began its invasion of Java. 

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