The Battle of Java Sea

In 1941, the Pacific War started just after the Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbor. Soon after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese started to advance in the Pacific and occupied Hong Kong, Singapore, New Guinea and Rabaul. The Allies have been unable to halt the Japanese armies on land, and now they would be tested at sea.

Java was the subsequent target for Japan, and the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) naval forces have been organized beneath ABDA command in an try to defend the Java and the rest of the Dutch East Indies. All round, this multinational navy was at a numerical disadvantage; and the Japanese also had All round air superiority.

What ABDA did have they pulled collectively in a somewhat desperate try to defend Java from the Japanese transport convoys heading towards it. ABDA's navy for the Battle of Java Sea incorporated heavy cruisers, light cruisers and destroyers that offered the backbone of the Allied fleet. Having said that, the Japanese had up to 14 destroyers for the battle, which comfortably eclipsed the ABDA total.

Provided that, winning the Battle of Java Sea was no quick process for ABDA and their commander Admiral Doorman. As the ABDA fleet moved to intercept the convoys, they came below heavy torpedo fire from the Imperial Japanese Navy. Through this salvo the heavy cruiser Exeter was hit, and the Japanese fleet sank a destroyer.

As the battle continued, ABDA created additional attempts to attain the Japanese transport convoys. Having said that, every single time the Japanese intercepted; and additional torpedo strikes enhanced ABDA losses. For the duration of those torpedo strikes Admiral Doorman's ship was hit and sank.

The remainder of the ABDA fleet started to retreat. On the other hand, they had been pursued by the Japanese; and the Exeter was completed off prior to it could escape from the battle. Only a couple of American destroyers managed to withdraw from the Battle of Java Sea intact.

As such, the battle was a decisive Japanese victory. Whilst the invasion of Java was delayed, it could not be prevented by ABDA as Java fell to Japan. ABDA naval losses have been also heavy, losing one heavy cruiser, two light cruisers and up to 5 destroyers.

With these losses the ABDA defense of the Dust East Indies all but crumbled. The Imperial Japanese Navy won additional victories at the Battle of Sunda Strait In the course of the Dutch East Indies Campaign, and so the rest of Indonesia fell to Japan. Above all else, the Imperial Japanese Navy had once more demonstrated its potency in the Pacific War at the Battle of Java Sea. Nonetheless, their navy was shattered months later at the Battle of Midway.

Matthew is the author of the book Battles of the Pacific War 1941 - 1945. This is a book that covers nine of the biggest land and naval battles in the Pacific Theater. For additional particulars, verify out the book's weblog ( http://battlesofthepacificwar.blogspot.co.uk/ ), Amazon ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battles-Pacific-War-1941-ebook/dp/B008YDCBBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345193117&sr=8-1 ) and Lulu pages.