View source for Battle of the Java Sea

{{Short description|1942 naval battle on the Pacific campaign of WWII}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Battle of the Java Sea
| image             = Haguro-1942.jpg
| image_size        = 300px
| caption           = The heavy cruiser [[Japanese cruiser Haguro|''Haguro'']] pictured after the battle
| partof            = [[World War II]], [[Pacific War]]
| date              = 27 February 1942
| place             = [[Java Sea]], [[Dutch East Indies]]
| coordinates       = {{Coord|5|0|S|111|0|E|type:event_region:ID|display=title,inline}}
| result            = Japanese victory
| combatant1        = {{Plainlist|
* {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Dutch government-in-exile|Netherlands]]
* {{Flag|United States|1912}}
* {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{Flag|Australia|1913}}
}}
| combatant2        = {{Flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}
| commander1        = {{Plainlist|
* {{Flagdeco|Netherlands}} [[Karel Doorman]]{{KIA}} }}
| commander2        = {{Flagicon|Empire of Japan}} [[Takeo Takagi]]<ref name="Klemen">{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Klemen |date=1999–2000 |title=Rear-Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/doorman.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412134506/https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/doorman.html |archive-date=12 April 2021 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref>
| strength1         = {{Plainlist|
* 2 heavy cruisers
* 3 light cruisers
* 9 destroyers
}}
| strength2         = {{Plainlist|
* 2 heavy cruisers
* 2 light cruisers
* 14 destroyers
* 10 transports
}}
| casualties1       = {{Plainlist|
* 2 light cruisers sunk
* 3 destroyers sunk
* 2 heavy cruisers damaged (one badly)
* 2,300 sailors killed
}}
| casualties2       = {{Plainlist|
* 3 destroyers damaged
* 1 transport damaged by air raid
* 36 sailors killed
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Pacific 1941}}

{{Campaignbox Netherlands East Indies}}

The '''Battle of the Java Sea''' ({{langx|id|Pertempuran Laut Jawa}}, {{langx|ja|スラバヤ沖海戦|Surabaya oki kaisen|'''Sea Battle off Surabaya'''}}) was a decisive<ref>{{cite book |last=Morison |first=Samuel Eliot |year=2001 |title=History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: The Rising Sun in the Pacific |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=piEUmkf8o_cC&dq=decisive+battle+java+sea&pg=PA332 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |page=332 |isbn=978-0-252-06973-4}}</ref> [[naval battle]] of the [[Pacific War|Pacific campaign]] of [[World War II]].

[[Allies of World War II|Allied]] navies suffered a decisive defeat at the hand of the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] on 27 February 1942 and in secondary actions over successive days, starting when the main Combined Striking Force (CSF) of two [[heavy cruiser]]s, three [[light cruiser]]s, and nine [[destroyer]]s, led by the  Striking Force commander (EC, ''Eskadercommandant'' or Squadron Commander), Rear-Admiral [[Karel Doorman]] of the Royal Netherlands Navy, attempted to intercept a Japanese troop [[convoy]] in the [[Java Sea]], only to be intercepted by the convoy's larger escort forces. The battle started off as a stalemate, but the heavy cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro]]'' changed the course of the battle when she crippled the heavy cruiser [[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']] with gunfire, then torpedoed and sank the Dutch destroyer ''[[HNLMS Kortenaer (1927)|Kortenaer]]'', sending Doorman's fleet into temporary disorder as the damaged ''Exeter'' withdrew.  A gunfight between Allied and Japanese destroyers then resulted in the sinking of [[HMS Electra (H27)|HMS ''Electra'']] and shell damage to her opponent ''[[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1937)|Asagumo]]'' before Doorman's force turned away, ending the daylight engagement as dusk fell.

However, under the cover of night, Admiral Doorman's ships attempted another attack, during which the destroyer [[HMS Jupiter (F85)|HMS ''Jupiter'']] accidentally hit a Dutch [[naval mine|mine]] and sank, but the Japanese immediately caught on to their plan, prompting the ''Haguro'' and her [[sister ship]] ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]'' to ambush the Allied fleet with a stealthy long-range torpedo attack. One of ''Nachi's'' torpedoes hit the Dutch light cruiser ''[[HNLMS Java (1921)|Java]]'', which was instantly blown apart and sank with almost all hands. One of ''Haguro's'' torpedoes then hit the Allied flagship, the Dutch light cruiser ''[[HNLMS De Ruyter (1935)|De Ruyter]]'', which sank to progressive flooding over several hours, killing Admiral Doorman.

The aftermath of the battle included several smaller actions around Java, including the smaller but also significant [[Battle of Sunda Strait]], which saw the sinking of the heavy cruiser [[USS Houston (CA-30)|USS ''Houston'']], the light cruiser [[HMAS Perth (D29)|HMAS ''Perth'']], and the destroyer [[HNLMS Evertsen (1926)|HNLMS ''Evertsen'']], and the [[Second Battle of the Java Sea|second battle of the Java Sea]], where the still crippled ''Exeter'' and her escorting destroyers were sunk by a Japanese squadron, including ''Haguro''. These defeats led to the dissolution of the Allied fleet as a whole, the scuttling of the Dutch navy, and the Japanese occupation of the entire [[Dutch East Indies]].

==Background==
The Japanese [[Dutch East Indies campaign|invasion of the Dutch East Indies]] progressed at a rapid pace as the Japanese advanced from their [[Palau]] Islands colony and captured bases in [[Sarawak]] and the southern Philippines.<ref name="Klemen"/> They seized bases in eastern [[Borneo]]<ref name="Klemen"/> and in northern [[Sulawesi|Celebes]]<ref name="Klemen"/> while troop convoys, screened by [[destroyer]]s and [[cruiser]]s with air support provided by swarms of fighters operating from captured bases, steamed southward through the [[Makassar Strait]] and into the [[Molucca Sea]]. Opposing the invading forces was a small force consisting of Dutch, American, British and Australian warships, many of them of [[World War I]] vintage, initially under the command of American Admiral [[Thomas C. Hart]] of ABDAFLOAT.<ref name="Klemen"/>

On 23-24 January 1942 a force of four American destroyers [[Battle of Balikpapan (1942)|attacked a Japanese invasion convoy]] in the Makassar Strait at Balikpapan, Borneo.  The Japanese ships were anchored off [[Balikpapan]] in Borneo.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Muir |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/BalikpapanRaid.html |title=The Balikpapan Raid |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410111039/https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/BalikpapanRaid.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 13-16 February the Japanese [[Battle of Palembang|attacked the major oil port of Palembang]] in eastern [[Sumatra]].<ref name="Klemen"/> Japanese paratroopers fought a pitched battle against Allied defenders around the big Pladjoe oil plants, the largest and most valuable petrochemical installations in the East Indies.  On the night of 19/20 February, an Allied force attacked the Japanese eastern invasion force off [[Bali]] in the [[Battle of Badung Strait]].<ref name="Klemen"/> Also on 19 February, the Japanese made two [[Bombing of Darwin|air raids on Darwin]], on the Australian mainland, one from carrier-based planes and the other by land-based planes,<ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Horner |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/TheGunners13.html |title=The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery |year=1995 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942 |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716122642/http://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/TheGunners13.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> rendering Darwin useless as a supply and naval base to support operations in the East Indies.

==Battle==
[[File:HNLMS De Ruyter.jpg|thumb|{{HNLMS|De Ruyter|1935|6}} at anchor in the bay at Oosthaven shortly before the battle, [[Karel Doorman|Admiral Doorman's]] flagship]]
[[File:Nachi-19420306.png|thumb|The heavy cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]'', Admiral [[Takeo Takagi|Takagi's]] flagship]]

=== Prelude ===
[[File:Aerial view of HNLMS Java (cropped).jpg|thumb|The light cruiser [[HNLMS Java (1921)|HNLMS ''Java'']] at anchor, 5 February 1942]]
Japanese amphibious forces gathered to strike at Java, and on 27 February 1942 the main Allied naval force, under Rear Admiral [[Karel Doorman]], sailed northeast from [[Surabaya]] to intercept a convoy of the Japanese eastern invasion force approaching from the Makassar Strait. The Allied eastern strike force consisted of two [[heavy cruiser]]s ([[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']] and [[USS Houston (CA-30)|USS ''Houston'']]), three [[light cruiser]]s (Doorman's flagship [[HNLMS De Ruyter (1935)|HNLMS ''De Ruyter'']], [[HNLMS Java (1921)|HNLMS ''Java'']], [[HMAS Perth (D29)|HMAS ''Perth'']]), and nine destroyers ([[HMS Electra (H27)|HMS ''Electra'']], [[HMS Encounter (H10)|HMS ''Encounter'']], [[HMS Jupiter (F85)|HMS ''Jupiter'']], [[HNLMS Kortenaer (1927)|HNLMS ''Kortenaer'']], [[HNLMS Witte de With (1928)|HNLMS ''Witte de With'']], [[USS Alden|USS ''Alden'']], [[USS John D. Edwards|USS ''John D. Edwards'']], [[USS John D. Ford|USS ''John D. Ford'']], and [[USS Paul Jones (DD-230)|USS ''Paul Jones'']]). On paper, this seemed a formidable force, but its combat effectiveness was questionable. Belonging to several different navies, the ships had practically no experience in each other's naval doctrine and fighting styles, and most crucially there was a language barrier between the Dutch speaking Karel Doorman and the English-speaking US, UK, and Australian ships, hindering communications.

Upon departure, the Allied force was immediately spotted by a Japanese [[floatplane]] launched from the convoy's main protection force, commanded by Rear Admiral [[Takeo Takagi]]. The main Japanese group consisted of the heavy cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]'' (the latter, Takagi's flagship, having launched the floatplane), and the destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Kawakaze (1936)|Kawakaze]]'', [[Japanese destroyer Yamakaze (1936)|''Yamakaze'']], ''[[Japanese destroyer Ushio (1930)|Ushio]]'', and [[Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1931)|''Sazanami'']]. This was supported by a second group led by Rear Admiral [[Shōji Nishimura|Shoji Nishimura]], consisting of the light cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Naka|Naka]]'' and [[Japanese cruiser Jintsū|''Jintsū'']] and the destroyers [[Japanese destroyer Yūdachi (1936)|''Yūdachi'']], [[Japanese destroyer Samidare (1935)|''Samidare'']], [[Japanese destroyer Murasame (1935)|''Murasame'']], [[Japanese destroyer Harusame (1935)|''Harusame'']], [[Japanese destroyer Minegumo (1937)|''Minegumo'']], and [[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1937)|''Asagumo'']]. Upon learning of the opposing force's movements from ''Nachi'', both groups sailed aside each other at 30 knots to intercept the opposing force. The Japanese heavy cruisers had ten 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) guns each and superb [[Type 93 torpedo|torpedoes]]. By comparison, ''Exeter'' was armed only with six 8-inch guns, and only six of ''Houston''<nowiki/>'s nine 8-inch guns remained operable after her aft turret had been knocked out in an earlier air attack. While underway, Nishimura's group was joined by the nearby destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Yukikaze (1939)|Yukikaze]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze (1939)|Amatsukaze]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze|Hatsukaze]]'', and ''[[Japanese destroyer Tokitsukaze (1939)|Tokitsukaze]]'', before being attacked by land-based Dutch aircraft and [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17]] bombers, but avoided damage due to the planes' poor marksmanship. Captain [[Tameichi Hara]] aboard ''Amatsukaze'' noted that the planes attacked the Japanese warships, confirming their goal was to mow through the protection force before attacking the convoy and believing it to have been a mistake by the planes to have not attacked the troopships.<ref name=":02">Hara (1961) Chapter 13</ref>

The next day, Doorman's force was tracked by ''Nachi''{{'}}s floatplane while the Japanese fleet rigorously practiced in preparation for the coming engagement. Updates from ''Nachi''{{'}}s floatplane  worried the Japanese, as Doorman's ships were in a position to pounce on the vulnerable transport ships, but Doorman ordered his fleet to turn South to refuel at Surabaya. However, upon receiving reports of the Japanese fleet, Doorman immediately turned his ships back to attack the enemy. These actions, perhaps somewhat misunderstood, came as a relief to Admiral Takagi, who Captain Hara recalled saying "The enemy ships were staying clear of our air raids on Surabaya, the enemy is in no shape to fight us." He ordered the convoy to turn around and the escort ships to form up into a fighting formation.<ref name=":02"/>

=== Afternoon battle ===
At 15:48 on 27 February 1942, ''Amatsukaze''{{'}}s chief spotter Shigeru Iwata located Doorman's fleet at 31,600 yards. Captain Hara watched through his binoculars, clearly recognizing ''De Ruyter's'' masts as the fleet quickly became visible to the other ships. Admiral Doorman aboard ''De Ruyter'' in turn located the enemy force, with a brief scare due to a mistaken claim of battleships in the enemy formation, which was quickly corrected. Still, the allies could not make out any targets besides ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' because of the inferiority of their optical systems to those of the Japanese, because only one of Doorman's ships, the ''Exeter'', carried any form of radar, and because of the language barrier on the Allied side. Still, Doorman ordered his ships to turn west, hoping to prevent the Japanese fleet from [[Crossing the T|crossing his T]]. With both fleets thereafter sailing in a parallel course, ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'', which were training behind the other ships, could catch up to Nishimura's group.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":1">Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 10</ref>
[[File:HMS Exeter off Sumatra in 1942.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']] anchored off Sumatra in preparation for the battle]]
By 16:00, spotters on the ''Electra'' noticed ''Jintsū'', leading ''Yukikaze'', ''Amatsukaze'', ''Hatsukaze'', ''Tokitsukaze'', at 16,000 yards, and her 4.7-inch (12&nbsp;cm) guns fired the first shots of the battle, closely followed by all the cruisers and several destroyers. Every ship aimed their guns at ''Jintsū'', straddling her several times, but not a single shell made its mark. The ''Naka'' and her group of destroyers returned fire at 24,000 yards, and their shells, too, all missed their mark. Both sides rapidly closed the distance and, frustrated by the ineffective gunfire, Nishimura ordered ''Naka'' and his destroyers to fire torpedoes at 15,000 yards, letting out 43 torpedoes. A few exploded after running a few thousand yards; the rest missed. Nishimura's hastiness to engage at long range was later criticized by the Japanese admiralty due to the sheer amount of wasted ammunition. Recognizing this flaw, Takagi ordered all ships to close the range and charge the enemy as he watched his heavy cruisers blast away at long range.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":1" />

==== Initial hits ====
''Exeter'', ''Houston'', and ''Perth'' all fired on ''Haguro'' and initially claimed to have blown up and sunk her. In fact, ''Haguro'' was untouched, as she and ''Nachi'' scored the first hits of the battle. ''Haguro'' focused her gunfire on ''De Ruyter'', striking her with an 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) shell that blasted apart her auxiliary motor room, starting a fire that killed one crewman and injured six others. A second 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) shell from ''Haguro'' punched through ''De Ruyter's'' unarmored portions without exploding. Meanwhile, Admiral Takagi's flagship focused her fire on ''Houston'', which ''Nachi'' succeeded in hitting with two 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) shells, one punching through her bow and the other holing her stern, which managed to rupture an oil tank. Even when their shells didn't directly hit, near-miss and straddle damage still took a toll, ''Nachi's'' shells landing as little as 3 yards from ''Houston''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=IJN HAGURO: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/haguro_t.htm}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Houston II (CA-30) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/houston-ii.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=public2.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=HNLMS De Ruyter - uboat.net |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2866.html}}</ref>

''Jintsū'' leading a line of destroyers—''Yukikaze'', ''Tokitsukaze'', ''Amatsukaze'', ''Hatsukaze'', ''Ushio'', ''Sazanami'', ''Yamakaze'', and ''Kawakaze''—closed the range by Takagi's order, in the hope of enabling more accurate torpedoing. ''Electra'' switched fire to the cluster as 5.9-inch (15&nbsp;cm) shells from ''De Ruyter'' continued to rain on the column. One of ''Electra's'' 4.7-inch (12&nbsp;cm) shells hit ''Tokitsukaze'', causing thick white smoke to burst out of the ship, blinding ''Amatsukaze'' behind her. A near miss from ''De Ruyter'' then lightly damaged ''Amatsukaze's'' hull and dashed water on her bridge. However, neither destroyer was critically damaged. In turn, the destroyers engaged in a gunfight with ''De Ruyter'', although no shells hit their mark. ''Yukikaze'' and ''Tokitsukaze'' first let out 16 torpedoes at 6,000 yards, followed closely by ''Amatsukaze'', then the five other destroyers behind her. A total of 70 torpedoes were aimed at the enemy, yet not a single hit was made.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":4" /><ref name="主要兵器">{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-04 |title=天津風【陽炎型駆逐艦 九番艦】その1Amatsukaze【Kagero-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/amatsukaze/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref>

==== Torpedo attack by ''Haguro'' ====
[[File:FgIjbmZUUAA59ZZ.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro's]]'' steering room during the battle]]

Though the torpedoes did not hit, they prompted the allied fleet to maneuver, enabling ''Haguro'' to switch fire from ''De Ruyter'' to the ''Exeter'', with ''Exeter'' responding back. Engaging each other at 22,000 yards, ''Exeter's'' gunnery was poor, managing only a straddle by the 8th salvo. ''Haguro'' proved more effective, first scoring an 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) hit to her stern below the waterline which lifted the ship and caused considerable flooding. Another salvo from ''Haguro'' registered a devastating hit on ''Exeter'' when an 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) shell gouged into ''Exeter's'' engine. It exploded and destroyed six of ''Exeter's'' eight boilers, killing 40 men as ''Exeter's'' speed dropped to 5 knots. Doorman's fleet then maneuvered chaotically, as, when ''Exeter'' began to fall out of formation, ''Houston'', ''Perth'', and ''Java'' all followed her, assuming they had missed a command from Doorman, leaving ''De Ruyter'' charging alone at the enemy fleet before joining the other cruisers. Simultaneously, ''Haguro'' fired a spread of 8 torpedoes and continued to engage. The British destroyers ''Jupiter'', ''Encounter'', and ''Electra'' came to assist the crippled ''Exeter'' as Doorman's cruisers began to turn away, laying a smokescreen in an attempt to hide the disorganized formation.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>Dull (2007) p 80-82</ref><ref name=":5">Grove (1993) p 92-94</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=スラバヤ沖海戦（ジャワ海海戦）／Battle of the Java Sea：1942年2月27日 |url=https://xn--ww2-523es33s4hr4hk.jp/kantaisen04.htm |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=xn--ww2-523es33s4hr4hk.jp}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Action Report: Captain O. L. Gordon of HMS Exeter: Battle of the Java Sea |url=https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hms/exeter/research/action-report-captain-gordon.pdf}}</ref>

[[File:Haguro.jpg9.jpg|thumb|''Haguro'' at anchor in 1940]]

Up to this point, the battle of the Java Sea had been something of a stalemate, with both sides missing their shots due to extreme range and inflicting minor damage with the few hits scored. ''Haguro's'' hit on ''Exeter'' was only the beginning of Doorman's misfortune. In an ironic twist, the only Japanese torpedo to make its mark during the course of the afternoon battle was one of ''Haguro's'' launched at extreme range and hitting home 15 minutes after firing, striking the Dutch destroyer ''Kortenaer''. Within moments of the hit, the destroyer broke apart and sank with the loss of 66 men. Launched at a distance of 22,000 yards, this hit by ''Haguro'' was probably the longest-range torpedo hit in naval history.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=PacificWrecks.com |title=Pacific Wrecks - Hr. Ms. Kortenaer |url=https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hrms/kortenaer.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=pacificwrecks.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Asagumo.jpg|thumb|''[[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1937)|Asagumo]]'' underway in September 1939]]

==== Destroyer on destroyer action ====
[[File:HMS Electra.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Electra (H27)|HMS ''Electra'']] on parade]]
The American destroyers ''Alden'', ''John C Edwards'', ''John C Ford'', and ''Paul Jones'' fired their torpedoes at ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'', but none made their mark. Simultaneously, the British destroyers attempting to cover the crippled ''Exeter'' were engaged by the Japanese destroyers ''Asagumo'' and ''Minegumo''. ''Minegumo'' stayed at a longer range and attacked ''Jupiter'' and ''Encounter'', lightly damaging them with near misses, but failed to score any direct hits. ''Asagumo'' and ''Electra'', by contrast, engaged each other at point-blank range. ''Asagumo'' took several 4.7-inch (12&nbsp;cm) shells, temporarily leaving her dead in the water, killing five sailors and injuring 16 others. ''Asagumo'', however, inflicted more damage than she received, a hail of 5-inch (127&nbsp;mm) gunfire destroying ''Electra's'' A and X turrets, engine room, communications, and electrical power, and setting ''Electra'' on fire. ''Electra'' desperately let out a spread of eight torpedoes at her opponent, but none hit, and in response ''Minegumo'' switched fire from the other destroyers and joined ''Asagumo'' in pounding the already crippled ''Electra''. Western sources sometimes credit ''Jintsū'' with assisting ''Asagumo'', but Japanese records do not support this. ''Electra''{{'}}s remaining guns were destroyed, flooding overwhelmed damage control, and fires burned out of control under ''Asagumo's'' and ''Minegumo's'' bombardment. ''Electra''{{'}}s crew finally abandoned ship and left her to sink. ''Encounter'' and ''Jupiter'' had been repelled by ''Minegumo's'' gunfire and retreated to assist ''Exeter''.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=朝雲【朝潮型駆逐艦 五番艦】Asagumo【Asashio-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/asagumo/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=峯雲【朝潮型駆逐艦 八番艦】Minegumo【Asashio-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/minegumo/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=IJN Asagumo: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/asagum_t.htm}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=IJN Minegumo: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/minegu_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HMS Electra, destroyer |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-21E-Electra.htm |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref><ref name=":9">Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 11</ref><ref>Dull (2007) p 82-86</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Alden (Destroyer No. 211) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alden.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=public2.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== ABDA retreat ===
After almost two hours of fighting, Doorman's ships had not even come close to attacking the Japanese troop convoy. One of his cruisers was crippled, two more were damaged, and he suffered two destroyers sunk, while his ships, with their poor gunnery, had managed only to moderately damage one destroyer and lightly damage two others. He still wanted to attack the convoy, but recognized that he simply could not under the current conditions. Doorman thus decided to cut his losses and regroup whilst retiring in the general direction of Surabaya <ref>T.Womack, pp 220. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014.</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 442. Forlorn Hope, 2012.</ref><ref>T Hara pp 73. Japanese Destroyer Captain, 1961.</ref> which led Takagi to mistakenly believe the Allied ships were retreating to port.<ref>T Hara, pp 74. Japanese Destroyer Captain, 1961.</ref> The limping ''Exeter'', no longer in condition to contribute further to the battle,<ref name="usni.org">{{cite web | title=Ernest Evans and the Battle of the Java Sea: Continued | date=13 September 2023 | url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2023/october/ernest-evans-and-battle-java-sea-continued }}</ref> was ordered to break off from the force, taking ''Witte de With'' with her as escort into Surabaya.<ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 311. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017.</ref><ref>T. Womack, pp 220. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014.</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 441. Forlorn Hope, 2012.</ref><ref>Capt Gordon, item 24, HMS Exeter After Action Report. https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hms/exeter/research/action-report-captain-gordon.pdf</ref><ref>W. Remmelink, pp 117. You Engage and Then You See, 2019. https://militairespectator.nl/sites/default/files/teksten/bestanden/Militaire%20Spectator%203-2019%20Remmelink.pdf</ref> However, after nightfall, the remainder of Doorman's ships changed direction and steamed back toward the convoy.<ref name=":02">Hara (1961) Chapter 13</ref><ref name=":4"/><ref name=":1"/>

==== Routing of ABDA destroyers ====
[[File:HMS Jupiter 1940 IWM A 238.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Jupiter (F85)|HMS ''Jupiter'']] underway in August 1940]]
Then, after much maneuvering for position, the plan began to backfire. The four American destroyers were dangerously low on fuel and had completely expended their torpedoes and were thus limited to gun armament only. At around 21:15 the American destroyers accordingly detached from Doorman's fleet to retire to Surabaya.<ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 323. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017</ref><ref>T. Womack, pp 225. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 443. Forlorn Hope, 2012</ref><ref name="usni.org"/> Again Doorman decided to absorb the losses and continued to charge on. However, at about 21:25 while traveling west along the coast of Java, ''Jupiter'', one of Doorman's two remaining destroyers<ref name="pacificwrecks.com">https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hms/encounter/report-of-proceedings-of-hms-encounter.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2025}}</ref><ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 323-325. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 444. Forlorn Hope, 2012.</ref><ref>G. Hermon Gill, pp 614. Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942, 1957</ref><ref>USN Combat Narratives. The Java Sea Campaign, pp 60 https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/war-and-conflict/wwii/javaseacampaign/</ref> hit a mine and sank with the loss of 84 men.<ref>HNLMS De Ruyter https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2866.html</ref><ref>HMS Jupiter, destroyer https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-37J-HMS_Jupiter.htm</ref> The mine that sank ''Jupiter'' is generally thought to have been not Japanese, but Dutch, lain by the Dutch minelayer [[HNLMS Gouden Leeuw|''Gouden Leeuw'']]. Shortly thereafter, around 22:00 while now headed north, the Striking Force passed through the former battlegrounds and sighted men in the water. HMS ''Encounter'', the lone remaining destroyer, was ordered to pick up the survivors, who turned out to be 113 men from the earlier sinking of ''Kortenaer'', and after doing so retired to Surabaya.<ref name="pacificwrecks.com"/><ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 326. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017.</ref><ref>T. Womack, pp 227. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014.</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 444. Forlorn Hope, 2012</ref><ref>G. Hermon Gill, pp 614. Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942, 1957.</ref><ref>W. Remmelink, pp 120. You Engage and Then You See, 2019. https://militairespectator.nl/sites/default/files/teksten/bestanden/Militaire%20Spectator%203-2019%20Remmelink.pdf</ref><ref>USN Combat Narratives. The Java Sea Campaign.  pp 61 https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/war-and-conflict/wwii/javaseacampaign/java_sea_75th_anniversary_ed.pdf</ref> Doorman now had not a single destroyer in his force, leaving him only his remaining heavy cruiser ''Houston'' and light cruisers ''De Ruyter'', ''Java'', and ''Perth''. But Doorman charged on, still hoping for victory.<ref name=":4"/><ref name=":10"/><ref name=":1"/>

=== Night ambush ===
Unknown to Doorman, ''Haguro''{{'}}s floatplane had been tracking his force the entire time. After the daylight battle, Takagi believed he had secured a victory as his ships made post-battle reformations. ''Asagumo's'' crew conducted temporary repairs following her gunfight with ''Electra'', getting the engine back up and running as she regained speed, retiring from the engagement and taking ''Minegumo'' to escort her. ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' stopped in the water to recover their floatplanes, which had been catapulted shortly before the battle, but while this was being conducted, one of ''Haguro''{{'}}s floatplanes still in the air noticed Doorman's fleet turning back, much to Takagi's shock.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />
[[File:NH 73021 NACHI (Japanese Cruiser, 1927).jpg|thumb|''Nachi'' anchored off [[Ōminato Guard District|Ōminato]] on 13 November 1943]]
''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' instantly picked up speed and raced to engage the enemy yet again. ''Haguro''{{'}}s floatplane this time tracked Doorman's every movement, which were now far more predictable than earlier in the battle. It was just before midnight that the Japanese optical systems picked up the enemy force at long range. Steaming at maximum speed, ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' closed to 16,000 yards. Low on ammunition for their main guns, they instead opted for a stealthy torpedo attack, in which ''Nachi'' unleashed eight torpedoes, and ''Haguro'' four.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

The Allied fleet detected ''Nachi's'' torpedoes at 23:32 and took evasive action, but ''Java'', at the end of the [[Line of battle|battle line]], did not turn fast enough. A torpedo struck near her stern and ignited her magazine. The resulting explosion was so violent that {{Convert|100|ft|m}} of her stern was blown off and heat was felt onboard other ships in formation. Damage control was hopeless, and she sank in about 15 minutes.<ref name=":74">{{Cite book |last=Cox |first=Jeffrey |title=Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II |date=2014 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing Plc |isbn=978-1-4728-1060-1 |series=General Military |location=London}}</ref>{{Rp|page=316–317|pages=}} Only 19 crewmembers survived.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":82">{{Cite encyclopedia |last=Whitley |first=M. J. (Michael J.) |date=1995 |title=De Ruyter Class |url=https://archive.org/details/cruisers-of-wwii-enciclopedia-images/page/192/mode/2up?q=%22De+Ruyter%22+ |encyclopedia=Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia |location=London |publisher=Arms and Armour Press |isbn=1854092251 |oclc=34992799}}</ref>{{Rp|page=190}}

[[File:Haguro-2.jpg|thumb|''Haguro'' under refit in 1936.]]
Four minutes later, one of ''Haguro's'' torpedoes hit Admiral Doorman's flagship. All power was destroyed as the ''De Ruyter'' stopped dead in the water with significant flooding, and a massive fire broke out and enveloped the cruiser. ''Haguro's'' torpedo hit killed much of ''De Ruyter's'' damage-control crew, and the loss of all power disabled much of ''De Ruyter's'' damage-control equipment, meaning the massive fire could spread throughout the ship. Simultaneously, flooding slowly overwhelmed damage control and ''De Ruyter''{{'}}s list steadily increased. Over a period of three hours, fires and flooding overwhelmed ''De Ruyter'' as she capsized and sank with the loss of 367 men. Admiral Doorman and Captain [[Eugène Lacomblé]] were among the dead.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=encyclopedia |first=naval |date=2021-05-27 |title=HNLMS De Ruyter, Dutch KNIL light cruiser (1935) |url=https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/netherlands/de-ruyter.php |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=naval encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref>

Shouts of "Banzai" could be heard from ''Haguro''{{'}}s and ''Nachi''{{'}}s decks as crew members leaped for joy and hugged each other in excitement. Admiral Takagi chose not to attack with gunfire afterwards, knowing ''Java'' and ''De Ruyter'' were already fatally damaged. The pair steamed out of the area to reinforce the invasion convoy. Depending on the source, they were either undetected, or were spotted but untouched by ineffective gunfire. With Doorman dead, ''Houston'' and ''Perth'' abandoned the mission and retreated. Meanwhile, as the US destroyers evacuated the battlefield they ran into ''Amatsukaze'' and ''Hatsukaze''. Both sides exchanged fire, but no hits were scored and the US destroyers continued on their path while ''Amatsukaze'' and ''Hatsukaze'' regrouped with the fleet.<ref name=":02"/>

With almost all of their ships sunk or damaged, the remaining allied warships halted all offensive actions and attempted to flee the vicinity, leaving the Dutch East Indies to the invaders. The Japanese convoys continued to Surabaya unmolested, aside from an air raid that damaged a single troopship. All the Allies had accomplished was that the troops on Java received a one-day respite, which ultimately changed nothing. ''Perth'' and ''Houston'' proceeded to [[Tanjung Priok]], arriving later that day. However, oil shortages meant they could be only half fueled, and they received no new ammunition.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 12</ref>

==Aftermath==
After their victory, the Japanese fleet while returning to the invasion convoy stumbled upon the Dutch hospital ship [[SS Op Ten Noort|SS ''Op Ten Noort'']] as she was sailed to the battle scene to rescue survivors''.'' ''Op Ten Noort'' was halted by ''Murasame'' and ''Amatsukaze''. Captain Hara aboard ''Amatsukaze'' peeked through his binoculars and watched Captain G. Tuizinga walk on deck after the Japanese yelled a message to the ship in English. Upon inspection, there were no patients on the ship, only crew and staff, and in response ''Amatsukaze'' was ordered to escort ''Op Ten Noort'' to Singapore, where she would be converted into a prison ship. While underway, ''Amatsukaze and Hatsukaze'' crippled the submarine [[USS Perch (SS-176)|USS ''Perch'']], enabling her to be finished off by the destroyers ''Ushio'' and ''Sazanami'', then ''Amatsukaze'' fatally wounded the Dutch submarine ''[[HNLMS K X|K-10]]'', forcing her scuttling in Surabaya the next day.<ref name=":02">Hara (1961) Chapter 13</ref><ref name="主要兵器"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=KPN SS OP TEN NOORT an 6,000 ton 1927 Dutch Passenger-Cargo liner based in Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) |url=http://ssmaritime.com/SS-Op-Ten-Noort.htm |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=ssmaritime.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Editorial Notes - AMATSUKAZE |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/Amatsukaze-TU-Notes.htm}}</ref>

While traversing the Java Sea, ''Witte de With'' was damaged by land based Japanese aircraft and forced to retire for Surabaya. She was replaced by the destroyer [[USS Pope (DD-225)|USS ''Pope'']] in escorting the crippled ''Exeter'' to safety.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Admiralen-class destroyers |url=https://netherlandsnavy.nl/Admiralen.htm |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=netherlandsnavy.nl}}</ref>

===Battle of Sunda Strait===
{{Main|Battle of Sunda Strait}}

''Perth'' and ''Houston'' were at Tanjung Priok on 28 February when they received orders to sail through [[Sunda Strait]] to [[Cilacap|Tjilatjap]]. Materiel was running short in Java, and neither was able to rearm or fully refuel. Departing at 19:00 on 28 February for the Sunda Strait, by chance they encountered the main Japanese invasion fleet for West Java in [[Bantam Bay]] and were engaged by the groups escorting destroyers. The initial torpedo spreads fired from the ''[[Japanese destroyer Fubuki (1927)|Fubuki]], [[Japanese destroyer Shirayuki (1928)|Shirayuki]], [[Japanese destroyer Hatsuyuki (1928)|Hatsuyuki]]'', and ''[[Japanese destroyer Asakaze (1922)|Asakaze]]'' all missed, and in turn ''Perth'' hit ''Shirayuki'' with a 6-inch (152&nbsp;mm) shell to her bridge. However, the arrival of the convoy's other escorts, the heavy cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Mogami (1934)|Mogami]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Mikuma|Mikuma]]'', the light cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Natori|Natori]]'', and the destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Murakumo (1928)|Murakumo]], [[Japanese destroyer Shirakumo (1927)|Shirakumo]]'', and ''[[Japanese destroyer Shikinami (1929)|Shikinami]]'' quickly changed the tide of battle.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=Order of battle - Battle of the Sunda Strait |url=http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Sunda_Strait.php}}</ref><ref name=":12">O'Hara (2009) p 50-55</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN Amatsukaze: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/amatsu_texp.htm}}</ref>

''Mogami'' and ''Mikuma'' blasted ''Houston'', crippling her with 30 shell hits and two torpedo hits, though in turn ''Mikuma'' was hit by 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) shells that temporally disabled electrical power. Simultaneously, ''Perth'' became the focus of the escorting destroyers and dueled the ''[[Japanese destroyer Harukaze (1922)|Harukaze]]'' which she damaged with three dud 6-inch (152&nbsp;mm) shell hits, but not before ''Harukaze'' hit ''Perth'' with a torpedo that destroyed her forward engine room, followed two minutes later by another torpedo from the ''Shirakumo'' that flooded her bow, then two more torpedoes from ''Murakumo'' which finished her off; the crew quickly abandoned ship and left ''Perth'' to sink over 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the crippled ''Houston'' was attacked by the ''Shikinami'', which hit the cruiser with a final torpedo that resulted in the abandon-ship order being issued, leaving ''Houston'' to disappear beneath the waves.<ref name=":12" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=敷波【綾波型駆逐艦 二番艦】Shikinami【Ayanami-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/shikinami/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref>

During the action, a spread of torpedoes from ''Mogami'' that missed the allied cruisers accidentally hit and sank the minesweeper ''W-2'', the transport ships ''Sakura Maru'' and ''Tatsuno Maru'', the depot ship ''Shinshu Maru'', and the hospital ship ''Horai Maru''; more damage to Japanese forces that any of the allied ships managed to inflict. ''Tatsuno Maru'' and ''Shinshu Maru'' were later raised and repaired.<ref name=":11" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=TATSUNO MARU: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/Tatsuno_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IJA Landing Craft Depot Ship SHINSHU MARU: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/Shinshu_t.htm}}</ref>

The Dutch destroyer [[HNLMS Evertsen (1926)|HNLMS ''Evertsen'']] had been scheduled to depart Tanjung Priok with the cruisers, but was delayed, and she followed them about two hours later.  Her crew sighted the gunfire of the main action, and her captain managed to evade the Japanese main force.  However, ''Evertsen'' was then engaged by the ''Murakumo'' and ''Shirakumo'' in the Strait. On fire and in a sinking condition after at least seven 5-inch (127&nbsp;mm) shell hits, ''Evertsen'' grounded herself on a reef near [[Sebuku (Sumatra)|Sebuku Island]].  The surviving crew abandoned ship just as the aft [[Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazine]] exploded and the destroyer fully sank.<ref name=":11" />

===Second Battle of the Java Sea===
{{Main|Second Battle of the Java Sea}}

The ''Exeter'', still badly damaged from ''Haguro's'' shell hit, was continuing for safety in [[Ceylon]], and had traversed almost the entire Java Sea alongside the destroyers ''Encounter'' and ''Pope'', only to be located at 10:00 on 1 March by the heavy cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Myōkō|Myōkō]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Ashigara|Ashigara]]'' and their escorting destroyers, and engaged in a two hour long gun battle which saw no hits scored on either side. Just before 12:00, the battle experienced ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' arrived on the scene and opened fire, and 4 minutes later ''Exeter'' was finally hit by an 8-inch (203&nbsp;mm) shell that destroyed what was left of her boilers. Slowing to a stop, gunfire from the cruisers destroyed her electrical power and guns and set her on fire, leading to the crew scuttling ''Exeter''. Almost entirely out of ammo, ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' finally withdrew, while the destroyers ''Kawakaze'' and ''Yamakaze'' bombarded ''Encounter'', scoring hits that destroyed her steering gear and caused her to lose speed, and as ''Myōkō'' and ''Ashigara'' joined into the pounding, ''Encounter'' was sunk to overwhelming gunfire. ''Pope'' initially escaped, only to be crippled by aircraft from the light carrier ''[[Japanese aircraft carrier Ryūjō|Ryūjō]]'' and finished off by gunfire from ''Myōkō'' and ''Ashigara''.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=江風【白露型駆逐艦 九番艦】Kawakaze【Shiratsuyu-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/kawakaze/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pope I (DD-225) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/p/pope-i.html |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref><gallery widths="180" heights="130">
File:MyokoandAshigara.jpg|''[[Japanese cruiser Myōkō|Myōkō]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Ashigara|Ashigara]]'' engaging the limping ''Exeter'', 1 March 1942
File:Myoko-19420301.png|''Myōkō'' firing her aft 8-inch (203 mm) guns 
File:Exeter sinking.jpg|''Exeter'' sinking, taken from ''Myōkō's'' floatplane
File:Clemson-class destroyer sinking c1942.jpg|[[USS Pope (DD-225)|USS ''Pope'']] capsizing to starboard
</gallery>

=== Destruction of the ABDA fleet ===
[[File:USS Victoria (AO-46) fueling Clemson-class destroyers in 1942.jpg|thumb|The surviving American destroyers being refueled by [[USS Victoria (AO-46)|USS ''Victoria'']] upon reaching Australia, March 1942]]
With the complete destruction of Admiral Doorman's fleet across the battles of the Java Sea and Sunda Strait, plus the death of Doorman himself by the hand of ''Haguro's'' torpedo battery, ABDA fleet as a whole was completely disbanded, and there was one thing left for the remaining allied warships stuck in the Dutch East Indies-run. All of the former ABDA fleet warships fled the crumbling Dutch East Indies in hopes of reaching the safety of Australia. Many reached the ports of Sydney and Darwin successfully; among these lucky ships were the only allied survivors of the Java Sea battle, the four American destroyers ''John D. Edwards'', ''John D. Ford'', ''Alden'', and ''Paul Jones'', which while underway in the [[Bali Strait]] encountered the Japanese destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Hatsuharu (1933)|Hatsuharu]], [[Japanese destroyer Nenohi (1932)|Nenohi]], [[Japanese destroyer Wakaba (1934)|Wakaba]]'', and ''[[Japanese destroyer Hatsushimo (1933)|Hatsushimo]]'' and after a brief gunfight which inflicted no damage to either side successfully escaped to [[Fremantle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alden (Destroyer No. 211) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alden.html |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=public1.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN Hatsushimo: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/hatsus_t.htm}}</ref>[[File:USS Edsall (DD-219) under fire and sinking on 1 March 1942 (80-G-178997).jpg|thumb|[[USS Edsall (DD-219)|USS ''Edsall'']] sinking, taken from ''[[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|Tone]]'']]

However, many were not as lucky, Japanese forces raced to hunt down and destroy any allied vessels attempting to escape. The first instances occurred concurrently with the battles of the Java Sea, first the destroyers ''Fubuki, Hatsuyuki,'' and ''Harukaze'' sank the Dutch patrol ships ''Sirius'' and ''Reiger,'' while the ''Wakaba'' and ''Hatsushimo'' probably sank the Dutch cargo ship ''Siaoe.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN TSURUMI: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/Tsurumi_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN Wakaba: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/wakaba_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stichting Maritiem Historische Data - Saioe |url=https://www.marhisdata.nl/schip?id=5862}}</ref> The main slaughter began afterwards, starting immediately after the battle of Sunda Strait when ''Fubuki'' and ''Hatsuyuki'' located the British minesweepers ''Rahman'' and ''Sin Aik Lee'', sinking both vessels without a fight. Simultaneously, land-based aircraft sank the seaplane tender [[USS Langley (CV-1)|USS ''Langley'']], while dive bombers from the aircraft carrier ''[[Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū|Sōryū]]'' sank the fleet oilier [[USS Pecos (AO-6)|USS ''Pecos'']]. and helped to sink the destroyer [[USS Edsall (DD-219)|USS ''Edsall'']] alongside gunfire from the battleships ''[[Japanese battleship Hiei|Hiei]]'' and ''[[Japanese battleship Kirishima|Kirishima]]'' and the heavy cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Tone (1937)|Tone]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Chikuma (1938)|Chikuma]]''. Later, the destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Kagerō (1938)|Kagerō]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Shiranui (1938)|Shiranui]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Kasumi (1937)|Kasumi]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Isokaze (1939)|Isokaze,]] [[Japanese destroyer Ariake (1934)|Ariake]]'', and ''[[Japanese destroyer Yūgure (1934)|Yūgure]]'' dogpiled and sank the Dutch freighter ''Modjokerto'', the destroyer ''[[Japanese destroyer Hayashio|Hayashio]]'' captured the Dutch cargo ship ''Speelman'', and finally on 4 March the heavy cruiser ''Chikuma'' and the destroyer ''[[Japanese destroyer Urakaze (1940)|Urakaze]]'' sank the Dutch freighter ''Enggano''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN Soryu: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/soryu.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN Urakaze: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/urakaz_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=初雪【吹雪型駆逐艦 三番艦】Hatsuyuki【Fubuki-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/hatsuyuki/ |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-04 |title=不知火【陽炎型駆逐艦 二番艦】Shiranui【Kagero-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/shiranui/ |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref>

Perhaps most notably was a mass raid conducted from 1–4 March by the heavy cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Takao (1930)|Takao]], [[Japanese cruiser Atago|Atago]]'', and ''[[Japanese cruiser Maya|Maya]]'' and the destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Nowaki (1940)|Nowaki]]'' and ''[[Japanese destroyer Arashi|Arashi]]'', which claimed 16 ships sunk or captured, known by Japanese sources as the battle of Tjilatjap. The hunt started on 1 March when ''Nowaki'' and ''Arashi'' sank the Dutch cargo ships ''Tomohon'' and ''Pageri'', then later sank the British minesweeper ''Scott Harley'' and the Dutch freighter ''Toradjo'' and captured the Dutch freighter ''Bintoehan''. The next day, ''Nowaki'' and ''Arashi'' sank the Norwegian cargo ship ''Prominent,'' then ''Takao'' and ''Atago'' sank the destroyer [[USS Pillsbury (DD-227)|USS ''Pillsbury'']] with all hands, while ''Maya, Nowaki'', and ''Arashi'' sank the destroyer [[HMS Stronghold|HMS ''Stronghold'']], before on 3 March ''Nowaki'' and ''Arashi'' sank the gunboat [[USS Asheville (PG-21)|USS ''Asheville'']]. Finally on 4 March, all five ships raided a convoy destined for Australia, together sinking the sloop [[HMAS Yarra (U77)|HMAS ''Yarra'']], the oil tanker ''Fancol'', the depot ship ''Anking'', and the minesweepers ''M-3'' and ''M-51'' and captured the freighters ''Duymaer van Twist'' and ''Tjisaroea''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN ATAGO: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/atago_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IJN MAYA: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/maya_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-04 |title=野分【陽炎型駆逐艦 十五番艦】その1Nowaki【Kagero-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/nowaki/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-04 |title=嵐【陽炎型駆逐艦 十六番艦】その1Arashi【Kagero-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/arashi/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Netherland ship losses of all causes during 1914-1945 |url=https://www.world-war.co.uk/warloss_29hol.php}}</ref>

=== Scuttling of the Dutch Navy ===
As the increasingly successful invasion of the Dutch East Indies began to reach the port of Surabaya, many Dutch ships still at anchor were not in a condition to escape the port. In order to prevent capture, some 50 Dutch ships were scuttled in Surabaya. Among these was the destroyer ''Witte de With'', still damaged by air attacks. While many of these ships were salvageable enough for the Japanese to raise and repair them, the operation was very successful as most of their warships were either completely destroyed or unable to serve combat roles. However, it completely decimated the Dutch navy for the rest of the war, effectively ending its role in the war outside of a few surviving submarines which continued to operate with the US Navy and Royal Navy, and a few surviving destroyers, flotilla leaders and gunboats serving with the Royal Navy.<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dutch Warship Losses in the Dutch East Indies 1941-1942 |url=https://www.oocities.org/dutcheastindies/dutch_losses.html}}</ref>

===Consequences===
The Battle of the Java Sea ended significant Allied naval operations in Southeast Asia in 1942, and [[Battle of Java (1942)|Japanese land forces invaded Java]] on 28 February. The Dutch surface fleet was practically eradicated from Asian waters and the Netherlands would never reclaim full control of its colony.  The Japanese now controlled one of the most important food-producing regions (Java), and by conquering the Dutch East Indies, Japan also controlled the fourth-largest oil producing area in the world in 1940.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

The U.S. and [[Royal Air Force]] retreated to Australia. Dutch troops, aided by British remnants, fought fiercely for a week. In the campaign the Japanese executed many Allied [[POW]]s and sympathizing Indonesians. Eventually, the Japanese won this decisive battle of attrition and ABDA forces surrendered on 9 March.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

== Wrecks ==
As of 2002 the location of the wreck of only one of the eight ships sunk during the two so-called Java Sea Battles, HMS ''Jupiter'', was known and plotted on an Admiralty chart. However, given her location in very shallow water so close to shore she had already been heavily salvaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pacificwrecks.com/|title=Pacific Wrecks|last=PacificWrecks.com|website=pacificwrecks.com}}</ref>

In December 2002 the wrecks of HNLMS ''Java'' and HNLMS ''De Ruyter'' were discovered by a specialist wreck diving group aboard the dive vessel MV ''Empress''. ''Empress'' then went on to discover the wrecks of HMS ''Electra'' in August 2003; HNLMS ''Kortenaer'' in August 2004; and HMS ''Exeter'' and HMS ''Encounter'' in February 2007.  When discovered these wrecks were all in a very well-preserved state, save for battle damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pacificwrecks.com/people/visitors/denlay/|title=Kevin Denlay – Shipwreck Discoveries and SCUBA Diver|last=PacificWrecks.com|website=pacificwrecks.com}}</ref> In late 2008, ''Empress'' discovered remnants of the last wreck, USS ''Pope'', which had already been largely removed by illegal salvage diving operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pacificwrecks.com/ships/usn/DD-225.html|title=Pacific Wrecks – USS Pope DD-225|last=PacificWrecks.com|website=pacificwrecks.com}}</ref>

Although the MV ''Empress'' team kept the locations of their discoveries secret, by 2017 all eight ships had been reduced to remnants or even entirely removed by illegal commercial salvage operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyanswers.co.uk/history-of-war/java-sea-shipwrecks-of-world-war-2-one-of-the-men-who-found-them-reflects-on-their-loss/|title=Java Sea Shipwrecks of World War 2: One of the men who found them reflects on their loss – All About History|website=historyanswers.co.uk|date=23 November 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37997640|title=Mystery over Dutch WW2 shipwrecks vanished from Java Sea bed|date=2016-11-16|publisher=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/16/british-second-world-war-ships-illegal-scavenging-java-sea|title=British second world war ships in Java Sea destroyed by illegal scavenging|last1=Holmes|first1=Oliver|date=2016-11-16|last2=Harding|first2=Luke|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.maritiem-erfgoed.nl/sites/default/files/field_attachments/report_verification_mission_feb_2017_java_seapublic_210217.pdf |title=Joint Verification of the location and condition of Hr.Ms. De Ruyter, Java and Kortenaer |access-date=15 April 2017 |archive-date=15 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415203303/https://www.maritiem-erfgoed.nl/sites/default/files/field_attachments/report_verification_mission_feb_2017_java_seapublic_210217.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Always Another Dawn]]'' (1948) - film that depicts the battle<ref name="always">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|date=3 August 2025|access-date=3 August 2025|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-films-always-another-dawn/|magazine=Filmink|title=Forgotten Australian Films: Always Another Dawn}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
* {{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'', vol. 3 of ''[[History of United States Naval Operations in World War II]]|publisher=Castle Books|isbn=0-7858-1304-7}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite book |last=Brown |first=David |year=1990 |title=Warship Losses of World War Two | publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-914-X}}
* {{Cite book |last=Burchell |first=David |year=1971 |title=The Bells of the Sunda Strait | publisher=Rigby |location=Adelaide, Australia}}
* {{Cite book |last=Cain |first=T. J. |year=1959 |title=HMS Electra |publisher=Futura Publications |location=London}}
* {{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=Dull |first=Paul S. |year=1978 |title=A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-097-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/battlehistoryofi0000dull}}
* {{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&nbsp;– Navy]] |volume=I |location=Canberra |publisher=[[Australian War Memorial]] |chapter=Chapter 15: Abda and Anzac |chapter-url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070606/ |oclc=848228}}
* {{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&nbsp;– 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 |last=Gordon |first=Oliver L. |year=1957 |title=Fight It Out |publisher=William Kimber}}
* {{Cite book |last=Grove |first=Eric |year=1993 |title=Sea Battles in Close-Up: World War II, vol. 2 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-7110-2118-X}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hara |first=Tameichi |year=1961 |title=Japanese Destroyer Captain |publisher= Ballantine Books |location=New York & Toronto |oclc=999383208}} Reprint: {{ISBN|0-345-27894-1}}. Firsthand account of the battle by the captain of the Japanese destroyer ''Amatsukaze''.
* {{Cite book |last=Holbrook |first=Heber |year=1981 |title=U.S.S. ''Houston'': The Last Flagship of the Asiatic Fleet |publisher=Pacific Ship and Shore |location=Dixon, CA, USA}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hornfischer |first=James D. |year=2006 |title=Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors |publisher=Bantam |isbn=0-553-80390-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/shipofghosts00jame}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hoyt |first=Edwin P. |year=1976 |title=The Lonely Ships: The Life and Death of the Asiatic Fleet |publisher=David McKay Company |location=New York}}
* {{Cite book |last=Kehn |first=Donald M. |year=2009 |title=A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Mysterious Fate of the USS Edsall |publisher=Zenith Press |isbn=978-0-7603-3353-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/blueseaofbloodde00kehn}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lacroix |first=Eric |author2=Linton Wells |year=1997 |title=Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-311-3}}
* {{Cite book |last=McKie |first=Ronald |year=1953 |title=Proud Echo: The Great Last Battle of HMAS Perth |publisher=Angus & Robertson |location=Sydney}}
* {{Cite book |last=Parkin |first=Robert Sinclair |year=1995 |title=Blood on the Sea: American Destroyers Lost in World War II |publisher=Da Capo Press |isbn=0-306-81069-7}}
* {{Cite book |last=Payne |first=Alan |year=2000 |title=HMAS Perth: The Story of a Six-Inch Cruiser, 1936–1942 |publisher=The Naval Historical Society of Australia |location=Garden Island, NSW, Aus}}
* {{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}}
* {{Cite book |last=Spector |first=Ronald |author-link=Ronald H. Spector |year=1985 |title=Eagle Against the Sun: The American War With Japan |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-394-74101-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/eagleagainstsuna0000spec}}
* {{Cite book |last=Thomas |first=David A. |year=1968 |title=The Battle of the Java Sea |location=New York |publisher=Stein & Day |isbn=0-330-02608-9}}
* {{Cite book |last=van Oosten |first=F. C. |year=1976 |title=The Battle of the Java Sea |series=Sea Battles in Close-up 15 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=0-87021-911-1}}
* {{Cite journal  |last1=Visser |first1=H. |title=Question 25/53  |journal=Warship International |date=September 2017  |volume=LIV  |issue=3  |pages=189–190  |issn=0043-0374}}
* {{Cite book |last=Whiting |first=Brendan |year=1995 |title=Ship of Courage: The Epic Story of HMAS Perth and Her Crew |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=St Leonards, NSW |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 |location=Annapolis, Maryland |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 |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-928-X}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* {{Cite video |people=Niek Koppen (Director) |year=1995 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210987/ | title=Slag in de Javazee, De (The Battle of the Java Sea) |medium=Documentary film |location= Netherlands |publisher=NFM/IAF}} – 135-minute documentary of the battle. Won the "[[Golden Calf for Best Long Documentary|Golden Calf]]" award for "Best Long Documentary" at the 1996 [[Nederlands Film Festival]].
* [https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/usnwc-historical-monographs/28/ To the Java Sea: The Diary, Letters and Papers of Henry E. Eccles]
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/ |title=CombinedFleet.com: Tabular history of Japanese ships involved in the battle |access-date=17 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515143345/http://www.combinedfleet.com/ |archive-date=15 May 2006 <!--DASHBot--> |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/java_sea.htm |title=Battle of the Java Sea: 27 February 1942 by Vincent P. O'Hara |access-date=17 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060412082231/http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/java_sea.htm |archive-date=12 April 2006 <!--DASHBot--> |url-status=live |author=Vincent P. O'Hara |author-link=Vincent P. O'Hara}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/sunda_strait.htm |title=Battle of Sunda Strait: 28 February-1 March 1942 by Vincent P. O'Hara |access-date=31 May 2006}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/indonesia_javasea.html |title=Details on the battle and sunken ships from a diving site |access-date=17 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060430024610/http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/indonesia_javasea.html |archive-date=30 April 2006}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/BattleoftheJavaSeainwhich.html |title=Details on the battle and the report from the captain of HMS ''Exeter'' |access-date=17 May 2006}}
* {{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=17 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515042510/http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/index.html |archive-date=15 May 2006 <!--DASHBot--> |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web |last=L |first=Klemen |title=The Japanese Invasion of Dutch West Timor Island, February 1942 |url=https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/java_sea.html |work=The Netherlands East Indies 1941–1942 |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726052834/http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/java_sea.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Java-Sea.htm |title=Navweaps.com order of battle. |access-date=17 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060517135050/http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Java-Sea.htm |archive-date=17 May 2006 <!--DASHBot--> |url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/alliesinadversity/japanese/java.asp |title=Australian War Memorial description of the battle with some pictures. |access-date=17 May 2006 |archive-date=19 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060819131502/http://awm.gov.au/alliesinadversity/japanese/java.asp |url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.historyanimated.com/DutchEastIndiesPage.html |title=Fall of the Dutch East Indies |work=Animated histories of Pacific battles of World War II |access-date=3 September 2006 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005200/http://www.historyanimated.com/DutchEastIndiesPage.html |url-status=dead}}
* {{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=20 November 2006}}

{{World War II}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Java Sea, Battle of 01}}
[[Category:1942 in Japan]]
[[Category:Ambushes in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Ambushes of World War II]]
[[Category:February 1942]]
[[Category:Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies]]
[[Category:Japanese war crimes in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Java Sea]]
[[Category:Naval ambushes]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Australia]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Japan]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the United Kingdom|Java Sea]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving the United States]]
[[Category:South West Pacific theatre of World War II]]
[[Category:World War II naval operations and battles of the Southeast Asia Theatre]]
[[Category:World War II prisoner of war massacres by Imperial Japan]]