Dutch light cruiser Hr. Ms. De Ruyter
Dutch light cruiser Hr. Ms. Java. Built by Kon. Mij. De Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands
Dutch destroyer Hr. Ms. Kortenaer
British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter
American heavy cruiser USS Houston
Rear admiral Karel Doorman
The international press reported last weeks shocking news. Dutch divers discovered that the wrecks of the Dutch cruisers Hr. Ms. De Ruyter and Java were disappeared from the bottom of the Java Sea and just a part of the wreck of the Dutch destroyer Hr.Ms. Kortenaer remained. All three sips were part of an Allied squadron consisting of American, Australian, British and Dutch warships. This so-called ABDA-squadron was commanded by the Dutch rear admiral Karel Doorman trying to stop Japan invading the Dutch East Indies. It ended in the Battle of the Java Sea on 27th February 1942. All three Dutch ships went down with around 900 Dutch sailors killed. In the two days following were the major Allied ships also destroyed. Totally more as 2.200 men at Allied side were killed.
On 16 November 2016 was reported that beside the Dutch ships also the British cruiser HMS Exeter and the destroyer HMS Encounter and the American submarine USS Perch disappeared and that of the British destroyer HMS Electra just a part remained. Presumably were the wrecks despite being war graves illegally scavenged for the precious metals.
