Second Battle of the Java Sea

Japanese forces destroy Allied ships attempting to escape the Java area.

After Allied naval defeats in the waters around Java, surviving ships attempted to break through to safer bases. The Japanese fleet controlled the principal withdrawal routes.

The British ships HMS Exeter and HMS Encounter and the American USS Pope were sunk. The engagement formed part of the rapid collapse of the naval defence of the Dutch East Indies.

The loss of these warships further reduced the Allies' ability to impede the Japanese occupation of the islands.

Source: View historical source ↗