Unrealistic thoughts about the naval engagements during the invasion of Java, Dutch East Indies in the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary dated 3 March 1942

Dutch light cruiser Hr.Ms. Java

Dutch destroyer Hr.Ms. Kortenaer

American heavy cruiser USS Houston

British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter

An item reported that during the naval battle off Java, Dutch East Indies  between Allied and Japanese forces in the night of 27-28 February possible 1-8” cruiser and 1 destroyer were sunk and 1-8” cruiser damaged. The Japanese lost 1 cruiser, a second one on fire and probable since then sunk, a third cruiser damaged and 4 destroyers sunk. In the night of 28 February-1 March an American and a British cruiser fought in the Sunda Straits and a Dutch destroyer was beached after she was damaged by 2 Japanese cruiser. Four American destroyers escaped via the Strait of Bali. Allied aircraft attacked a enemy convoy north of Rembang sinking one destroyer and damaged a second one. The Japanese invasion forces in the night of 28 February-1 March numbered 16 transports with probably one division at Northwest Bantam, 23 transports with 1-2 divisions in the Bay of Indramaju and between Kragan and Awarar around 50 transports with minimal 2 divisions. The J.I.C. Commented that the Japanese naval losses during the invasion of Java would effect her strength negative compared with the US naval strength in the Pacific.(1)

Note

1. On 27 February lost the ABDA Strike Force commanded by the Dutch rear admiral Karel Doorman the Dutch light cruisers Hr.Ms. De Ruyter and Java, Dutch destroyer Kortenaer and British destroyers HMS Electra and Jupiter. In the night of 28 February-1 March were the American 8”-cruiser US Houston and the Australian light cruiser HMAS Perth sunk and the Dutch destroyer HMS Evertsen beached.The British 8”-cruiser HMS Exeter and the destroyer Encounter and American destroyer USS Popo sunk on 1 March and the four destroyers arrived safely at Fremantle, Australia on 4 March were the USS John D. Edwards, John D. Ford, Alden and Paul Jones. Further more were the Dutch destroyer Hr.Ms., American destroyers YSS Pillsbury and Edsall and gunboat Asheville also lost. So the J.I.C. comment was far from correct not the Japanese but the Allied forces were eliminated.

Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 83 dated 3 March 1942.