battle of Sunda Strait

{{Main|Battle of the Java Sea}}

In late February 1942, Japanese amphibious forces were preparing to invade 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 cruisers, including {{USS|Houston|CA-30|6}} under the command of Captain Albert H. Rooks, three light cruisers, including {{HMAS|Perth|1934|6}} under Captain Hector Waller, and nine destroyers. Only six out of nine of USS Houston{{'}}s {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} heavy guns were operational because her aft gun turret had been knocked out in an earlier Japanese 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.{{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}}

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.{{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}} Waller, who had seniority, was de facto commander of this force. The only ships they expected to encounter were Australian corvettes 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, 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 Kenzaburo Hara, and the 7th Cruiser Division, under 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}}.

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}}.{{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}}

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) 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.{{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 }}

During the fierce night action in the Battle of Sunda Strait, the Allied cruisers HMAS Perth and 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.{{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}}{{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}}

Friendly fire incidents occurred during the battle, resulting in the sinking of approximately four Japanese transports and the minesweeper W-2. Notably, the transport Ryujo Maru, carrying 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.Chen, WW2 Database{{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}}

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.{{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}}{{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}}

Meanwhile, as Evertsen was trying to catch up with Houston and Perth, her crew spotted the 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 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.

File:Rockingham Naval Park 7.jpg 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.{{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 }}

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 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}}

• Burma Railway
• Houston Volunteers
• Lost Battalion (Pacific, World War II)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{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 }}

{{Refend}}

• {{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. 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}}

• [http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/79166x67892/8330/a0.htm Naval History (no date), "1942 03 01 0100 Surface Action Battle Of Sunda Strait" ]
• {{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 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Sunda Strait}}

Category:South West Pacific theatre of World War II

Sunda Strait

Sunda Strait

Sunda Strait

Sunda Strait

Sunda Strait

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