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{{Short description|1942 naval battle in the Pacific theatre of WWII, in present-day western Indonesia}}
{{About|the World War II battle in 1942|French Revolutionary War engagement|Battle of the Sunda Strait (1794)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Battle of Sunda Strait
| image             = Perth in February 1942.jpg
| image_size        = 300px
| caption           = {{HMAS|Perth|1934|6}} in February 1942
| partof            = [[World War II]], [[Pacific War]]
| date              = 28 February – 1 March 1942
| place             = [[Sunda Strait]], [[Dutch East Indies]]
| result            = Japanese victory
| combatant1        = {{plainlist|
* {{flag|United States|1912}}
* {{flag|Australia}}
* {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Dutch government-in-exile|Netherlands]]
}}
| combatant2        = {{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
| commander1        = {{plainlist|
* {{flagicon|Australia|naval-1913}} [[Hector Waller]]{{KIA}}
* {{flagdeco|United States|1912}} [[Albert H. Rooks]]{{KIA}}
}}
| commander2        = {{plainlist|
* {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|naval}} [[Kenzaburo Hara (admiral)|Kenzaburo Hara]]<ref name="Hara">{{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |date= 2000 |title= Rear-Admiral Kenzaburo Hara |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/hara.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200906085402/https://dutcheastindies.webs.com/hara.html |url-status = live|archive-date= 6 September 2020}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Empire of Japan|naval}} [[Takeo Kurita]]<ref name="Kurita">{{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |date= 2000 |title= Rear-Admiral Takeo Kurita |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/kurita.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201008130023/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/kurita.html |url-status = live|archive-date= 8 October 2020}}</ref>
}}
| strength1         = {{plainlist|
* '''American:'''
* 1 heavy cruiser
* '''Australian:'''
* 1 light cruiser
* '''Dutch:'''
* 1 destroyer
}}
| strength2         = {{plainlist|
* 1 [[light carrier]]
* 1 [[seaplane carrier]]
* 5 [[cruiser]]s
* 12 [[destroyer]]s
* 1 [[minelayer]]
* 1 [[minesweeper]]
* 58 [[troopship]]s
}}
| casualties1       = {{plainlist|
* 1 heavy cruiser sunk
* 1 light cruiser sunk
* 1 destroyer sunk
* 1,071 killed
* 675 POWs{{sfn|Muir|2020}}
}}
| casualties2       = {{plainlist|
* 1 minesweeper sunk (friendly fire)
* 4 troopships sunk or grounded{{sfn|Muir|2020}} (friendly fire)
* 1 cruiser damaged
* 3 destroyers damaged
* 10 killed
* 37 wounded{{sfn|Dull|1978}}
}}
| notes             = 
}}
{{Campaignbox Pacific 1941}}
{{Campaignbox Netherlands East Indies}}

The '''Battle of Sunda Strait''' was a [[naval battle]] which occurred during [[World War II]] in the [[Sunda Strait]] between the islands of [[Java]], and [[Sumatra]]. On the night of 28 February{{snd}} 1 March 1942, the [[Royal Australian Navy|Australian]] [[light cruiser]] {{HMAS|Perth|1934|6}}, [[United States Navy|American]] [[heavy cruiser]] {{USS|Houston|CA-30|6}}, and Dutch [[destroyer]] {{HNLMS|Evertsen|1926|6}} faced a major [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] (IJN) task force. After a fierce battle lasting several hours, all [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] ships were sunk. Five Japanese ships were sunk, three of them by [[friendly fire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1942: February 28-March 1: Battle of Sunda Strait |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/us-entry-into-wwii-japanese-offensive/1942-January-15-abda-japanese-octopus/1942-february-28-march-1-battle-sunda-strait.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Background==
{{Main|Battle of the Java Sea}}
In late February 1942, Japanese [[amphibious forces]] were preparing to invade [[Java (island)|Java]], in the [[Dutch East Indies]]. On 27 February, the main [[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command]] (ABDACOM) naval force, under Admiral [[Karel Doorman]]–a Dutch officer–steamed northeast from [[Surabaya]] to intercept an [[Imperial Japanese navy]] invasion fleet. This part of the ABDA force consisted of two [[heavy cruiser]]s, including {{USS|Houston|CA-30|6}} under the command of [[Captain (U.S. Navy)|Captain]] [[Albert H. Rooks]], three [[light cruiser]]s, including {{HMAS|Perth|1934|6}} under Captain [[Hector Waller]], and nine [[destroyer]]s. Only six out of nine of USS ''Houston''{{'}}s {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[naval artillery|heavy gun]]s were operational because her aft [[gun turret]] had been knocked out in an earlier Japanese [[Strategic bombing|air raid]]. The {{abbr|ABDA|American-British-Dutch-Australian}} force engaged the Japanese force in the [[Battle of the Java Sea]]. The Allied ships were all sunk or dispersed. ''Houston'' and ''Perth'' both retreated to [[Tanjung Priok]], Java, the main port of [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies]], where they arrived at 13:30 on 28 February.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=The Battle of Sunda Strait |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/1992/march/battle-sunda-strait |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=U.S. Naval Institute |language=en}}</ref>

==Prelude==
In the early evening on 28 February, ''Houston'', ''Perth'' and the Dutch [[destroyer]] {{HNLMS|Evertsen|1926|6}} received orders to depart Tanjung Priok and head through [[Sunda Strait]] to [[Tjilatjap]], on the south coast of Java.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-28 |title=From the Archives, 1942: HMAS Perth sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait |url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/from-the-archives-1942-hmas-perth-sunk-in-the-battle-of-sunda-strait-20220224-p59zdv.html |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> Waller, who had seniority, was de facto commander of this force. The only ships they expected to encounter were Australian [[corvette]]s on patrol, in and around the strait itself. While ''Houston'' and ''Perth'' left at 19:00, ''Evertsen'' was not ready and followed the cruisers two hours later.

By chance, just after 22:00, a Japanese invasion convoy bound for West Java{{snd}} including the entire [[Sixteenth Army (Japan)|Sixteenth Army]], under Lieutenant General [[Hitoshi Imamura]], in over 50 transport ships{{snd}} was entering [[Bantam Bay]], near the northwest tip of Java. The Japanese troop transports were escorted by the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, led by [[Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]] [[Kenzaburo Hara (IJN officer)|Kenzaburo Hara]], and the 7th Cruiser Division, under [[Vice admiral|Vice Admiral]] [[Takeo Kurita]]. Light cruiser {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Natori||2}} (with Admiral Hara aboard), with the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Harukaze|1922|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatakaze|1924|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Asakaze|1922|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Fubuki|1927|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsuyuki|1928|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shirayuki|1928|2}}, {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Shirakumo|1927|2}}, and {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Murakumo|1928|2}} were closest to the convoy. Flanking the bay to the north were the heavy cruisers {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Mogami|1934|2}} and {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Mikuma||2}}, accompanied by the destroyer {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Shikinami|1929|2}}.<ref name=":0" />

Slightly further north, though not involved in the action, was the aircraft carrier {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Ryūjō||2}}, with the heavy cruisers {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Suzuya|1934|2}} and {{Ship|Japanese cruiser|Kumano||2}} (with Admiral Kurita aboard), along with the [[seaplane tender]] {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chiyoda||2}}, and the destroyers {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Isonami|1927|2}} and {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Uranami|1928|2}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunda Strait: The Japanese Invincibility |url=https://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/sunda-strait |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Australian War Memorial, London |language=en}}</ref>

Some time around 23:15,{{sfn|Hornfischer|2009}} the Allied ships were sighted by the patrolling ''Fubuki'', which followed them surreptitiously. At 23:06, when they were about halfway across the mouth of Bantam Bay, ''Perth'' sighted a ship about {{convert|5|mi|nmi km|lk=on|abbr=on}} ahead, near Saint Nicolaas Point. It was thought at first that the ship was an Australian corvette, but when challenged, she made an unintelligible reply, with a lamp which was the wrong color, fired her nine Long Lance ([[Type 93 torpedo|Type 93]]) torpedoes from about {{convert|3000|yd}} and then turned away, making smoke. The ship was soon identified as a Japanese destroyer (probably ''Harukaze''). Waller reported the contact and ordered his forward turrets to open fire.<ref>{{cite web |first= Jan |last= Visser |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/SundaStrait.html |title= The Sunda Strait Battle |date= 2000 |work= Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141203155704/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/SundaStrait.html |archive-date= 3 December 2014 }}</ref>

==Main action==
During the fierce night action in the '''Battle of Sunda Strait''', the Allied cruisers [[HMAS Perth (D29)|HMAS ''Perth'']] and [[USS Houston (CA-30)|USS ''Houston'']] found themselves encircled by a formidable Japanese task force. In an attempt to evade capture, they navigated westward, engaging Japanese transports that obstructed their path. However, their retreat was hindered as the return route to the [[Java Sea]] was blocked by Japanese heavy cruisers. After enduring extensive damage from torpedoes and shellfire, both Allied cruisers were abandoned and subsequently sank after midnight.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Battles of Java Sea and Sunda Strait |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/1942/java-sunda.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=says |date=2025-01-30 |title=Slaughter in the Sunda Strait |url=https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/slaughter-in-the-sunda-strait/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=Warfare History Network |language=en-US}}</ref>

Friendly fire incidents occurred during the battle, resulting in the sinking of approximately four Japanese transports and the minesweeper ''W-2''. Notably, the transport [[Japanese amphibious assault ship Shinshū Maru|''Ryujo Maru'']], carrying [[Hitoshi Imamura|Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura]], was among those sunk. Imamura was forced to leap overboard but was later rescued by a Japanese rescue boat and returned to shore.<ref>Chen, WW2 Database</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=says |first=Dili |date=2015-04-29 |title=The Battle of Sunda Strait |url=https://thejavagoldblog.wordpress.com/background-info-book-1/airplanes/allied-naval-forces/the-battle-of-sunda-strait/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=The Java Gold's Blog |language=en}}</ref>

The engagement concluded with significant Japanese casualties, including the loss of five ships, three due to friendly fire. Allied forces suffered heavy losses, with both HMAS ''Perth'' and USS ''Houston'' sunk, and survivors taken as prisoners of war.<ref>{{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |date= 2000 |title= The conquest of Java Island, March 1942 |work= Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/java.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201008215945/https://dutcheastindies.webs.com/java.html |url-status = live|archive-date= 8 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1942: February 28-March 1: Battle of Sunda Strait |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/museums/nmusn/explore/photography/wwii/wwii-pacific/us-entry-into-wwii-japanese-offensive/1942-January-15-abda-japanese-octopus/1942-february-28-march-1-battle-sunda-strait.html |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Destroyer action ==

Meanwhile, as ''Evertsen'' was trying to catch up with ''Houston'' and ''Perth'', her crew spotted the [[Tracer ammunition|tracers]] and intense shellfire of the main action. Her captain ordered a course northwest towards Pulau Mundu island, off the east coast of [[Sumatra]], then hugged the Sumatran coast as ''Evertsen'' turned south to head through Sunda Strait.

However, ''Evertsen'' was spotted by ''Murakumo'' and ''Shirakumo'', looking for more escaping Allied ships. Both immediately illuminated ''Evertsen'' with their searchlights and took her under fire. ''Evertsen'' attempted to evade by turning west, but after turning southward again, the Dutch destroyer again encountered the Japanese destroyers. ''Evertsen'' was hit repeatedly, but temporarily disengaged under a smokescreen. By then, however, ''Evertsen''{{'}}s stern was on fire. Still taking Japanese fire, the captain ordered his crew to [[Ship grounding|ground]] ''Evertsen'' on a coastal reef. Firing all her torpedoes, the remaining crew escaped ashore before the fire reached the aft magazine, causing an explosion that blew off most of the stern.

==Aftermath==
[[File:Rockingham Naval Park 7.jpg|thumb|Commemorative plaque for HMAS ''Perth'' and USS ''Houston'' at [[Rockingham Naval Memorial Park]] in [[Rockingham, Western Australia]].]]
Officially the Allied personnel killed during the battle included 696 members of the crew of ''Houston'' and 375 from ''Perth'', including the captains of both vessels, Rooks and Waller. The survivors were picked up by Japanese vessels and taken prisoner, included 368 from ''Houston'' and 307 from ''Perth''. Rooks was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his actions. The majority of ''Evertsen''{{'}}s crew was taken prisoner on 9–10 March 1942 and were held by the Japanese for three and a half years.<ref name="HNLMS Evertsen">{{cite web |date= 4 August 2020 |title= Hr Ms Evertsen |url= https://pacificwrecks.com/ships/hrms/evertsen.html |website= PacificWrecks.com |access-date= 21 December 2020 |archive-date= 11 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201111142557/https://pacificwrecks.com/ships/hrms/evertsen.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The crew of the Japanese cruiser ''Mikuma'' suffered six killed and 11 wounded, as a result of damage caused by ''Houston''.{{sfn|Hackett|Kingsepp|2019}} A direct shell hit to the [[Bridge (ship)|bridge]] of the destroyer ''Shirayuki'' killed one crew member and wounded 11; ''Harukaze'' suffered hits to her bridge, engine room and rudder, killing three and wounding more than 15 others.{{sfn|Dull|1978}}{{page needed|date=December 2020}}

== See also ==
* [[Burma Railway]]
* [[Houston Volunteers]]
* [[Lost Battalion (Pacific, World War II)]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book | last = Dull | first = Paul S. | year = 1978 | title = A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945 | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-87021-097-1 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull }}
* {{cite web |last1= Hackett |first1= Bob |last2= Kingsepp |first2= Sander |date= 2019 |title= IJN Mikuma: Tabular Record of Movement |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/mikuma_t.htm |website= CombinedFleet.com |access-date= 21 December 2020 }}
* {{cite book | last = Hornfischer | first = James D. | date = 2009 | title = Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors | publisher = Random House | isbn = 9780307490889 | url = {{GBurl|Hyg0hUL0IW0C}} | access-date = 21 December 2020 }}
* {{cite web | last = Muir | first = Dan | date = 9 January 2020 | title = Order of Battle, Battle of the Sunda Strait | url = http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Sunda_Strait.htm | access-date = 21 December 2020 }}
* {{cite web |first= Klemen |last= L |date= 2000 |title= Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/index.html |access-date= 30 March 2021 |archive-date= 26 July 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726053035/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/index.html |url-status= dead }}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | last = D'Albas | first = Andrieu | year = 1965 | title = Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II | publisher = Devin-Adair Pub | isbn = 0-8159-5302-X}}
* {{Cite book | last = Gill | first = G. Hermon | year = 1957 | url = https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070207/ | title = Royal Australian Navy, 1939–1942 | series = [[Australia in the War of 1939–1945|Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy]] | volume = I | location = Canberra | publisher = Australian War Memorial | chapter = Chapter 16 – Defeat in Abda | chapter-url = https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070350/ | oclc = 848228 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Lacroix | first1 = Eric | last2 = Wells | first2 = Linton | year = 1997 | title = Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-87021-311-3}}
* {{cite book | last = Lewis | first = Tom | date =  2011 | title = The Submarine Six: Australian Naval Heroes | location = Kent Town, South Australia | publisher = Avonmore Books | isbn = 9780987151919 }}
* {{cite book | last = Morison | first = Samuel Eliot | author-link = Samuel Eliot Morison | orig-year = 1958| year = 2001 | title = The Rising Sun in the Pacific: 1931 – April 1942 | volume = III | series = [[History of United States Naval Operations in World War II]] | publisher = Castle Books | isbn = 0-7858-1304-7}}
* {{cite book | last = Schultz | first = Duane | year = 1985 | title = The Last Battle Station: The Story of the USS Houston | publisher = St Martins Press | isbn = 0-312-46973-X | url = https://archive.org/details/lastbattlestatio00schu | url-access = registration }}
* {{cite book | last = Skeels | first = Fred | year = 2008 | title = Java Rabble: A Story of a Ship, Slavery and Survival | publisher = Hesperian Press | location = Victoria Park | isbn = 978-0-85905-419-5}}
* {{cite book | last = van Oosten | first = F. C. | year = 1976 | title = The Battle of the Java Sea (Sea battles in close-up; 15) | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-87021-911-1}}
* {{cite book | last = Spector | first = Ronald | author-link = Ronald H. Spector | year = 1985 | chapter = The Short, Unhappy Life of ABDACOM | title = Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-394-74101-3 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/eagleagainstsuna0000spec }}
* {{cite book | last = Whiting | first = Brendan | author-link = Brendan Whiting | year = 1995 | title = Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew | publisher = Allen & Unwin Pty. | location = Australia | isbn = 1-86373-653-0}}
* {{cite book | last = Winslow | first = Walter G. | year = 1984 | title = The Ghost that Died at Sunda Strait | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 0-87021-218-4}} – Firsthand account of the battle by a survivor from USS ''Houston''
* {{cite book | last = Winslow | first = Walter G. | year = 1994 | title = The Fleet the Gods Forgot: The U.S. Asiatic Fleet in World War II | publisher = Naval Institute Press | isbn = 1-55750-928-X}}

==External links==
* [http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/79166x67892/8330/a0.htm ''Naval History'' (no date), "1942 03 01 0100 Surface Action Battle Of Sunda Strait" ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927124143/http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/79166x67892/8330/a0.htm |date=27 September 2007 }}
* {{cite web | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/index.html | title = US Navy report of the battle from 1943. | access-date = 2006-05-17| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060515042510/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/index.html| archive-date= 15 May 2006 | url-status= live | via = HyperWar Foundation }}
* {{cite web | last = United States Strategic Bombing Survey (Pacific) – Naval Analysis Division | year = 1946 | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/USSBS/PTO-Campaigns/USSBS-PTO-3.html | title = Chapter 3: The Japanese Invasion of the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, and Southeast Asia | work = The Campaigns of the Pacific War | publisher = United States Government Printing Office | access-date = 2006-11-20 | via = HyperWar Foundation }}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord missing|Indonesia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Sunda Strait}}
[[Category:South West Pacific theatre of World War II]]
[[Category:World War II naval operations and battles of the Southeast Asia Theatre|Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Japan|Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Australia|Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the United States|Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the Netherlands|Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II|Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies]]
[[Category:1942 in the Dutch East Indies]]
[[Category:Sunda Strait]]
[[Category:February 1942 in Asia]]
[[Category:March 1942 in Asia]]