Editing Battle of the Java Sea (section)

==Background==
The Japanese [[Dutch East Indies campaign|invasion of the Dutch East Indies]] progressed at a rapid pace as the Japanese advanced from their [[Palau]] Islands colony and captured bases in [[Sarawak]] and the southern Philippines.<ref name="Klemen"/> They seized bases in eastern [[Borneo]]<ref name="Klemen"/> and in northern [[Sulawesi|Celebes]]<ref name="Klemen"/> while troop convoys, screened by [[destroyer]]s and [[cruiser]]s with air support provided by swarms of fighters operating from captured bases, steamed southward through the [[Makassar Strait]] and into the [[Molucca Sea]]. Opposing the invading forces was a small force consisting of Dutch, American, British and Australian warships, many of them of [[World War I]] vintage, initially under the command of American Admiral [[Thomas C. Hart]].<ref name="Klemen"/>

On 23 January 1942 a force of four American destroyers [[Battle of Balikpapan (1942)|attacked a Japanese invasion convoy]] in [[Makassar Strait]] as it approached [[Balikpapan]] in Borneo.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Muir |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/BalikpapanRaid.html |title=The Balikpapan Raid |date=1999–2000 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref> On 13 February the Japanese [[Battle of Palembang|captured the major port of Palembang]] in eastern [[Sumatra]].<ref name="Klemen"/> On the night of 19/20 February, an Allied force attacked the Japanese eastern invasion force off [[Bali]] in the [[Battle of Badung Strait]].<ref name="Klemen"/> Also on 19 February, the Japanese made two [[Bombing of Darwin|air raids on Darwin]], on the Australian mainland, one from carrier-based planes and the other by land-based planes,<ref>{{cite web|first=David |last=Horner |url= https://warfare.gq/dutcheastindies/TheGunners13.html |title=The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery |year=1995 |work=Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941–1942}}</ref> rendering Darwin useless as a supply and naval base to support operations in the East Indies.