ENEMY SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23588, 16 March 1942, Page 5

ENEMY SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED

I ~— (8.0. W.) RUGBY, March 14. The loss of 13 Allied warships in Java Sea fighting is announced in an Admiralty communique, and, according to a United States Navy Department communique, the Japanese lost eight ships, believed sunk or damaged. The casualties of the Allied navies were:— Royal Navy—The cruiser Exeter (8390 tons), six eight-inch guns (which took part in the River Plate battle); the destroyers Jupiter (1690 tons), Electra and Encounter (both of 1375 tons), and Stronghold (905 tons). Royal Australian Navy—The cruiser Perth (7000 tons), eight six-inch guns; and the sloop Yarra (1060 tons). United States Navy—The cruiser Houston (9059 tons), nine eight-inch guns; the destroyer Pope (1190 tons). Royal Netherlands Navy—The cruisers Java (6670 tons), 10 5.9-inch guns, and De Ruyter (6450 tons), seven 5.9-inch guns; and the destroyers Kortenaer and Evertsen (both 1310 tons). One 10,000-ton Japanese cruiser was sunk, another was left blazing fiercely, and a third was damaged. Several destroyers were sunk or damaged. This estimate of Japanese losses includes only those which have been absolutely confirmed.

The Admiralty communique states that, although full information is not yet available, it is now possible to give some account from particulars at present in hand of events in the Java Sea on February 27 and subsequent days during the Japanese invasion of Java. “On the afternoon of February 27 an Allied force consisting of H.M.A.S. Perth, H.M.S. Exeter, the United States cruiser Houston, and the Dutch cruisers de Ruyter and Java were at sea north of Surabaya,” says the communique. “The Allied were accompanied by the destroyers H.M.S. Electra, H.M.S. Jupiter, and H.M.S. Encounter, and the Dutch destroyer Kortenaer, This force was under the sea command of Admiral Doorman, whose flag was flying in the de Ruyter. The whole naval force in the area was under the strategical control of Admiral C. E. L. Helfrich, of the Royal Netherlands Navy. “At 4.14 p.m. on February 27, this Allied force made contact with a Japanese force about half way between the Bawean Island and Surabaya. The Japanese force consisted of at least two Nati class cruisers of 10,000 tons armed with 10 eight-inch guns and a number of other cruisers. The Japanese cruisers had with them 13 destroyers organised in two flotillas. Action was joined at extreme range. “Almost at once one of the Japanese destroyer flotillas launched an attack, but this was driven off by the fire of the Allied cruisers, and one of the enemy destroyers tyas seen to be hit by shells from the Perth. Soon afterwards the other Japanese destroyer flotilla delivered a torpedo attack. While action was being taken to avoid these torpedoes, the Exeter was hit by an eight-inch shell in the boiler room. This reduced her speed and forced her to drop out of line. Only one of the torpedoes launched in this attack took effect. This hit the. Dutch destroyer Kortenaer and she sank. “The three British .destroyers were ordered to counter-attack the Japanese destroyers, which were-retiring under cover of a smoke screen. Very little information is available about the result of this counter-attack. The Jupiter reported seeing only two enemy destroyers, both of which she engaged with gunfire. The Electra was not seen after she had disappeared into the smoke screen, and it is presumed she was sunk. Enemy Cruiser Hit “As soon as the. Allied cruisers, except the Exeter, which was unable to keep up, drew clear of the smoke they again engaged the enemy, this time at shorter range. Less than half an hour later the enemy cruisers turned away under the cover of smoke screens. It was seen that one of the enemy heavy eight-inch gun cruisers had been hit aft and was burning fiercely. “Admiral Doorman led his forbe round and chased the enemy to the nonh-westward, but he failed to regain touch with the enemy in the fading light. After nightfall, the Allied cruisers, sighted four enemy ships to the Westward, and engaged them with what results are not known. Admiral Doorman attempted to work round these enemy ships to locate the convoy, which was expected to be to the northward. This was found to be impracticable, because of the high speed of the enemy, and Admiral Doorman then turned his force to the southward to close to the coast of Java, intending to sweep to the westward along the coast in an attempt to intercept Japanese invasion convoys. Half an hour later the Allied force had turned westward along the Java coast. , “The Jupiter was disabled by an underwater explosion, and sank four hours later. The Jupiter was not far from the mainland of Java, and a number of survivors have already reached Australia. “At 11.30 p.m., when the Allied cruisers were about 12 miles north of Rembang. two enemy cruisers were sighted between our ships and the coast. They were at once engaged, and a number of hits were secured on the enemy. The de Ruyter was hit by one shell, and immediately afterwards made a large alteration in course, presumably to avoid torpedoes fired by the enemy.

the night a report was received from the Perth which indicated that she had come into contact with a force of Japanese ships off St. Nicholas Point at about 11.30 p.m. Nothing, however, has been heard of the Perth or the United States cruiser Houston since that time. “The same night, the Exeter, which was unable to exceed half speed, left Surabaya, accompanied by H.M.S. Encounter and the United States destroyer Pope. On Sunday morning, the Exeter reported that she had sighted three enemy cruisers steering towards her. No further signals were received from the Exeter, the Encounter, or the Pope. 1 'The Dutch destroyer Evertsen encountered two Japanese cruisers in Sunda Strait. She was damaged and beached. “The destroyer H.M.S. Stronghold and the sloop H.M.A.S. Yarra are also missing, and must be considered lost. It has not been possible to form flny estimate of the damage inflicted on the enemy by these ships during their last actions. , ■. “All other Allied warships which were in Java waters are known'to be. safe, except some small craft and auxiliaries about which information ia not yet available.” The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A, V. Alexander), in a speech bn the war in the Far East, said it had. not gone according to plan; it had gone with great adversity to the Allies, and, 1 as a consequence, indescribable stress and strain were placed on the Royal Navy. “I am glad to pay a tribute to the members of this grand service," he said. 1

The other Allied cruisers were conforming, when underwater explosions occurred simultaneously in the de Ruyter and the Java. Both these Dutch cruisers blew up and sank at once. “It is impossible to assess with accuracy the damage inflicted upon the enemy during the actions of February 27. Observers in the Perth consider that one Japanese eight-inch gun cruiser was sunk, a second eight-inch gun cruiser damaged, and a destroyer sunk. It has also been reported that a cruiser of the Mogami class (8500 tons, with 15 6.1 -inch guns) was set on fire, and that three destroyers were seriously damaged and left on fire or sinking. The Perth, which had received some damage, reached Tanjong Priok at 7 a.m. on February 28. Japanese In Command of Sea “With the enemy in command of the sea and air north of Java in overwhelming force, the Allied command was faced with the problem of extricating the remaining Allied ships from a very dangerous situation. The way to Australia was barred by the 600mile long island of Java, with the straits at either end of it under enemy control. After dark on February 28 the Perth left Tanjong Priok with the intention of passing through Sunda Strait (between Java and Sumatra) during the dark hours. During