Editing Battle of the Java Sea (section)

==Battle==
[[File:HNLMS De Ruyter.jpg|thumb|{{HNLMS|De Ruyter|1935|6}} at anchor in the bay at Oosthaven shortly before the battle, [[Karel Doorman|Admiral Doorman's]] flagship]]
[[File:Nachi-19420306.png|thumb|The heavy cruiser ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]'', Admiral [[Takeo Takagi|Takagi's]] flagship]]

=== Prelude ===
[[File:Battle of Java Sea - HMS Exeter under Attack.jpg|thumb|The Royal Navy cruiser HMS Exeter (68) and a Dutch destroyer, visible at far right, under attack by Japanese aircraft in the Java Sea. The photo was taken from the Australian cruiser HMAS Hobart (D63), most probably as the ships were in or near the Gaspar Strait, Indonesia, 14-15 February 1942.]]
Japanese amphibious forces gathered to strike at Java, and on 27 February 1942 the main Allied naval force, under Rear Admiral [[Karel Doorman]], sailed northeast from [[Surabaya]] to intercept a convoy of the Japanese eastern invasion force approaching from the Makassar Strait. The Allied eastern strike force consisted of two [[Heavy cruiser|heavy cruisers]] ([[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']] and [[USS Houston (CA-30)|USS ''Houston'']]), three [[Light cruiser|light cruisers]] (Doorman's flagship [[HNLMS De Ruyter (1935)|HNLMS ''De Ruyter'']], [[HNLMS Java (1921)|HNLMS ''Java'']], [[HMAS Perth (D29)|HMAS ''Perth'']]), and nine destroyers ([[HMS Electra (H27)|HMS ''Electra'']], [[HMS Encounter (H10)|HMS ''Encounter'']], [[HMS Jupiter (F85)|HMS ''Jupiter'']], [[HNLMS Kortenaer (1927)|HNLMS ''Kortenaer'']], [[HNLMS Witte de With (1928)|HNLMS ''Witte de With'']], [[USS Alden|USS ''Alden'']], [[USS John D. Edwards|USS ''John D. Edwards'']], [[USS John D. Ford|USS ''John D. Ford'']], and [[USS Paul Jones (DD-230)|USS ''Paul Jones'']]). On paper, this seemed a formidable force, but its combat effectiveness was questionable. Belonging to several different navies, the ships had practically no experience in each other's naval doctrine and fighting styles, and most crucially there was a language barrier between the Dutch speaking Karel Doorman and the English-speaking US, UK, and Australian ships, hindering communications.

Upon departure, the Allied force was immediately spotted by a Japanese floatplane launched from the convoy's main protection force, commanded by Rear Admiral [[Takeo Takagi]]. The main Japanese group consisted of the heavy cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro]]'' and ''[[Japanese cruiser Nachi|Nachi]]'' (the latter, Takagi's flagship, having launched the floatplane), and the destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Kawakaze (1936)|Kawakaze]]'', [[Japanese destroyer Yamakaze (1936)|''Yamakaze'']], ''[[Japanese destroyer Ushio (1930)|Ushio]]'', and [[Japanese destroyer Sazanami (1931)|''Sazanami'']]. This was supported by second group led by Rear Admiral [[Shōji Nishimura|Shoji Nishimura]], consisting of the light cruisers ''[[Japanese cruiser Naka|Naka]]'' and [[Japanese cruiser Jintsū|''Jintsū'']] and the destroyers [[Japanese destroyer Yūdachi (1936)|''Yūdachi'']], [[Japanese destroyer Samidare (1935)|''Samidare'']], [[Japanese destroyer Murasame (1935)|''Murasame'']], [[Japanese destroyer Harusame (1935)|''Harusame'']], [[Japanese destroyer Minegumo (1937)|''Minegumo'']], and [[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1937)|''Asagumo'']]. Upon learning of the opposing force's movements from ''Nachi'', both groups sailed aside each other at 30 knots to intercept the opposing force. The Japanese heavy cruisers, with ten 8-inch (203 mm) guns each and superb [[Type 93 torpedo|torpedoes]]. By comparison, ''Exeter'' was armed only with six 8-inch guns, and only six of ''Houston''<nowiki/>'s nine 8-inch guns remained operable after her aft turret had been knocked out in an earlier air attack. While underway, Nishimura's group was joined by the nearby destroyers ''[[Japanese destroyer Yukikaze (1939)|Yukikaze]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze (1939)|Amatsukaze]]'', ''[[Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze|Hatsukaze]]'', and ''[[Japanese destroyer Tokitsukaze (1939)|Tokitsukaze]]'', before being attacked by land based Dutch aircraft and [[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17]] bombers, but avoided damage due to the planes' poor marksmanship. Captain [[Tameichi Hara]] aboard ''Amatsukaze'' noted that the planes attacked the Japanese warships, confirming their goal was to mow through the protection force before attacking the convoy and believing it to have been a mistake by the planes to have not attacked the troopships.<ref name=":0">Hara (1961) Chapter 13</ref>

The next day, Doorman's force was tracked by ''Nachi's'' floatplane while the Japanese fleet rigorously practiced in preparation for the coming engagement. Updates from ''Nachi's'' floatplane  worried the Japanese, as Doorman's ships were in a position to pounce on the vulnerable transport ships, but Doorman ordered his fleet to turn South to refuel at Surabaya. However, upon receiving reports of the Japanese fleet, Doorman immediately turned his ships back to attack the enemy. These actions, perhaps somewhat misunderstood, came as a relief to Admiral Takagi, who Captain Hara recalled saying "The enemy ships were staying clear of our air raids on Surabaya, the enemy is in no shape to fight us." He ordered the convoy to turn around and the escort ships to form up into a fighting formation.<ref name=":0" />

=== Afternoon battle ===
At 15:48 on 27 February 1942, ''Amatsukaze's'' chief spotter Shigeru Iwata located Doorman's fleet at 31,600 yards. Captain Hara watched through his binoculars, clearly recognizing ''De Ruyter's'' masts as the fleet quickly became visible to the other ships. Admiral Doorman aboard ''De Ruyter'' in turn located the enemy force, with a brief scare due to a mistaken claim of battleships in the enemy formation, which was quickly corrected. Still, the allies could not make out any targets besides ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' because of the inferiority of their optical systems to those of the Japanese, because only one of Doorman's ships, the ''Exeter'', carried any form of radar, and because of the language barrier on the Allied side. Still, Doorman ordered his ships to turn west, hoping to prevent the Japanese fleet from [[Crossing the T|crossing his T]]. With both fleets thereafter sailing in a parallel course, ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'', which were training behind the other ships, could catch up to Nishimura's group.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 10</ref>
[[File:HMS Exeter off Sumatra in 1942.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Exeter (68)|HMS ''Exeter'']] anchored off Sumatra in preparation for the battle]]
By 16:00, spotters on the ''Electra'' noticed ''Jintsū'', leading ''Yukikaze'', ''Amatsukaze'', ''Hatsukaze'', ''Tokitsukaze'', at 16,000 yards, and her 4.7-inch (12 cm) guns fired the first shots of the battle, closely followed by all the cruisers and several destroyers. Every ship aimed their guns at ''Jintsū'', straddling her several times, but not a single shell made its mark. The ''Naka'' and her group of destroyers returned fire at 24,000 yards, and their shells, too, all missed their mark. Both sides rapidly closed the distance and, frustrated by the ineffective gunfire, Nishimura ordered ''Naka'' and his destroyers to fire torpedoes at 15,000 yards, letting out 43 torpedoes. A few exploded after running a few thousand yards, while the rest all missed their target. Nishimura's hastiness to engage at long range was later criticized by the Japanese admiralty due to the sheer amount of ammunition the Japanese wasted with few hits in the initial stages of the battle. Recognizing this flaw, Takagi ordered all ships to close the range and charge the enemy as he watched his heavy cruisers blast away at long range.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==== First hits are scored ====
''Exeter'', ''Houston'', and ''Perth'' all fired on ''Haguro'' and initially claimed to have blown up and sunk her. In fact, ''Haguro'' was untouched, as she and ''Nachi'' scored the first hits of the battle. ''Haguro'' focused her gunfire on ''De Ruyter'', striking her with an 8-inch (203 mm) shell that blasted apart her auxiliary motor room, starting a fire that killed one crewman and injured six others. A second 8-inch (203 mm) shell from ''Haguro'' punched through ''De Ruyter's'' unarmored portions without exploding. Meanwhile, Admiral Takagi's flagship focused her fire on ''Houston'', which ''Nachi'' succeeded in hitting with two 8-inch (203 mm) shells, one punching through her bow and the other holing her stern, which managed to rupture an oil tank. Even when their shells didn't directly hit, near-miss and straddle damage still took a toll, ''Nachi's'' shells landing as little as 3 yards from ''Houston''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=IJN HAGURO: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/haguro_t.htm}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Houston II (CA-30) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/houston-ii.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=public2.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=HNLMS De Ruyter - uboat.net |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2866.html}}</ref>

A cluster of Japanese destroyers, ''Yukikaze'', ''Tokitsukaze'', ''Amatsukaze'', ''Hatsukaze'', ''Yamakaze'', ''Kawakaze'', and ''Ushio'' closed the range by Takagi's order, in the hope of enabling more accurate torpedoing. ''Electra'' switched fire to the cluster as 5.9-inch (15 cm) shells from ''De Ruyter'' continued to rain on the column. One of ''Electra's'' 4.7-inch (12 cm) shells hit ''Tokitsukaze'', causing thick white smoke to burst out of the ship, blinding ''Amatsukaze'' behind her. A near miss from ''De Ruyter'' then lightly damaged ''Amatsukaze's'' hull and dashed water on her bridge. However, neither destroyer was critically damaged. In turn, the destroyers engaged in a gunfight with ''De Ruyter'', although no shells hit their mark. ''Yukikaze'' and ''Tokitsukaze'' first let out 16 torpedoes at 6,000 yards, followed closely by ''Amatsukaze'', then the four other destroyers behind her. A total of 56 torpedoes were aimed at the enemy, yet not a single hit was made.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-04 |title=天津風【陽炎型駆逐艦 九番艦】その1Amatsukaze【Kagero-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/amatsukaze/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref>

==== Haguro changes the course of the battle ====
[[File:FgIjbmZUUAA59ZZ.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Japanese cruiser Haguro|Haguro's]]'' steering room during the battle]]
Though the torpedoes did not hit, they prompted the allied fleet to maneuver, enabling ''Haguro'' to switch fire from ''De Ruyter'' to the ''Exeter'', with ''Exeter'' responding back. Engaging each other at 22,000 yards, ''Exeter's'' gunnery was poor, managing only a straddle by the 8th salvo. ''Haguro'' proved more effective, scoring her first 8-inch (203 mm) shell hit, which did not explode. Another salvo from ''Haguro'' registered a devastating hit on ''Exeter''. One of ''Haguro's'' 8-inch (203 mm) shells gouged into ''Exeter's'' engine. It exploded and destroyed six of ''Exeter's'' eight boilers, killing 40 men as ''Exeter's'' speed dropped to 5 knots. Doorman's fleet then maneuvered chaotically, as, when ''Exeter'' began to retreat, ''Houston'', ''Perth'', and ''Java'' all followed her, assuming they had missed a command from Doorman, leaving ''De Ruyter'' charging alone at the enemy fleet before joining the other cruisers. Simultaneously, ''Haguro'' fired a spread of 8 torpedoes and continued to engage. The British destroyers ''Jupiter'', ''Encounter'', and ''Electra'' came to assist the crippled ''Exeter'' as Doorman's cruisers began to turn away, laying a smokescreen in an attempt to hide the disorganized formation.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>Dull (2007) p 80-82</ref><ref name=":5">Grove (1993) p 92-94</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=スラバヤ沖海戦（ジャワ海海戦）／Battle of the Java Sea：1942年2月27日 |url=https://xn--ww2-523es33s4hr4hk.jp/kantaisen04.htm |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=xn--ww2-523es33s4hr4hk.jp}}</ref>
[[File:Haguro.jpg9.jpg|thumb|''Haguro'' at anchor in 1940]]
Up to this point, the battle of the Java Sea had been something of a stalemate, with both sides missing their shots due to extreme range. Even when shells did hit, such as ''Haguro'''s and ''Nachi's'' hits to ''De Ruyter'' and ''Houston'' or ''Electa's'' hit on ''Tokitsukaze'', no significant damage was inflicted as the damaged ships were able to fight on. ''Haguro's'' hit on ''Exeter'' disorganized Doorman's fleet. In an ironic twist, the only Japanese torpedo to make its mark during the course of the afternoon battle was one of ''Haguro's'' launched at extreme range and hitting home 15 minutes after firing, striking the Dutch destroyer ''Kortenaer''. Within moments of the hit, the destroyer broke apart and sank with the loss of 66 men. Launched at a distance of 22,000 yards, this hit by ''Haguro'' was probably the longest-range torpedo hit in naval history.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=PacificWrecks.com |title=Pacific Wrecks - Hr. Ms. Kortenaer |url=https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hrms/kortenaer.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=pacificwrecks.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Asagumo.jpg|thumb|''[[Japanese destroyer Asagumo (1937)|Asagumo]]'' underway in September of 1939]]

==== Destroyer on destroyer action ====
[[File:HMS Electra.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Electra (H27)|HMS ''Electra'']] on parade]]
The American destroyers ''Alden'', ''John C Edwards'', ''John C Ford'', and ''Paul Jones'' fired their torpedoes at ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'', but none made their mark. Simultaneously, the British destroyers attempting to cover the crippled ''Exeter'' were engaged by the Japanese destroyers ''Asagumo'' and ''Minegumo''. ''Minegumo'' stayed at a longer range and took part in a 1v2 against ''Jupiter'' and ''Encounter'', lightly damaging them with near misses, but failed to score any direct hits. ''Asagumo'' and ''Electra'', by contrast, engaged each other at point blank range. ''Asagumo'' took several 4.7-inch (12 cm) shells, temporarily leaving her dead in the water, killing five sailors and injuring 16 others. ''Asagumo'', however, inflicted more damage than she received, a hail of 5-inch (127 mm) gunfire destroying ''Electra's'' A and X turrets, engine room, communications, and electrical power, and setting ''Electra'' on fire. ''Electra'' desperately let out a spread of eight torpedoes at her opponent, but none hit, and in response ''Minegumo'' switched fire from the other destroyers and joined ''Asagumo'' in pounding the already crippled ''Electra''. Western sources sometimes credit ''Jintsū'' with assisting ''Asagumo'', but Japanese records do not support this. ''Electra's'' remaining guns were destroyed, flooding overwhelmed damage control, and fires burned out of control under ''Asagumo's'' and ''Minegumo's'' bombardment. ''Electra's'' crew finally abandoned ship and left her to sink. ''Encounter'' and ''Jupiter'' had been repelled by ''Minegumo's'' gunfire and retreated to assist ''Exeter''.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=朝雲【朝潮型駆逐艦 五番艦】Asagumo【Asashio-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/asagumo/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=主要兵器 |first=大日本帝国軍 |date=2018-02-03 |title=峯雲【朝潮型駆逐艦 八番艦】Minegumo【Asashio-class destroyer】 |url=https://japanese-warship.com/destroyer/minegumo/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=大日本帝国軍 主要兵器 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=IJN Asagumo: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/asagum_t.htm}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=IJN Minegumo: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/minegu_t.htm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HMS Electra, destroyer |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-21E-Electra.htm |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.naval-history.net}}</ref><ref name=":9">Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 11</ref><ref>Dull (2007) p 82-86</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Alden (Destroyer No. 211) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alden.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=public2.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Allied retreat ===
After almost two hours of fighting, Doorman's ships had not even come close to attacking the Japanese troop convoy. One of his cruisers was crippled, two more were damaged, and he suffered two destroyers sunk, while his ships, with their poor gunnery, had managed only to moderately damage one destroyer and lightly damage two others. He still wanted to attack the convoy, but recognized that he simply could not under the current conditions. Doorman thus decided to cut his losses and regroup whilst retiring in the general direction of Surabaya <ref>T.Womack, pp 220. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014.</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 442. Forlorn Hope, 2012.</ref><ref>T Hara pp 73. Japanese Destroyer Captain, 1961.</ref> which led Takagi to mistakenly believe the Allied ships were retreating to port.<ref>T Hara, pp 74. Japanese Destroyer Captain, 1961.</ref> The limping ''Exeter'', no longer in condition to contribute further to the battle,<ref>https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2023/october/ernest-evans-and-battle-java-sea-continued</ref> was ordered to break off from the force, taking ''Witte De With'' with her as escort into Surabaya.<ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 311. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017.</ref><ref>T. Womack, pp 220. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014.</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 441. Forlorn Hope, 2012.</ref><ref>Capt Gordon, item 24, HMS Exeter After Action Report. https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hms/exeter/research/action-report-captain-gordon.pdf</ref><ref>W. Remmelink, pp 117. You Engage and Then You See, 2019. https://militairespectator.nl/sites/default/files/teksten/bestanden/Militaire%20Spectator%203-2019%20Remmelink.pdf</ref> However, after nightfall, the remainder of Doorman's ships changed direction and steamed back toward the convoy.<ref name=":0">Hara (1961) Chapter 13</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=HNLMS De Ruyter - uboat.net |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2866.html}}</ref><ref name=":1">Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 10</ref>
==== Loss of all allied destroyers ====
[[File:HMS Jupiter 1940 IWM A 238.jpg|thumb|[[HMS Jupiter (F85)|HMS ''Jupiter'']] underway in August of 1940]]
Then, after much maneuvering for position, the plan began to backfire. The four American destroyers were dangerously low on fuel and had completely expended their torpedoes and were thus limited to gun armament only. At around 21.15 the American destroyers accordingly detached from Doorman's fleet to retire to Surabaya.<ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 323. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017</ref><ref>T. Womack, pp 225. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 443. Forlorn Hope, 2012</ref><ref>
https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2023/october/ernest-evans-and-battle-java-sea-continued</ref> Again Doorman decided to absorb the losses and continued to charge on. However, at about 21:25 while traveling west along the coast of Java, ''Jupiter'', one of Doorman's two remaining destroyers<ref>https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hms/encounter/report-of-proceedings-of-hms-encounter.pdf</ref><ref>D. Kehn Jnr, pp 323-325. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 444. Forlorn Hope, 2012.</ref><ref>G. Hermon Gill, pp 614. Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942, 1957</ref><ref>USN Combat Narratives. The Java Sea Campaign, pp 60 https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/war-and-conflict/wwii/javaseacampaign/</ref> hit a mine and sank with the loss of 84 men.<ref>HNLMS De Ruyter https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2866.html</ref><ref>HMS Jupiter, destroyer https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-37J-HMS_Jupiter.htm</ref> The mine that sank ''Jupiter'' is generally thought to have been not Japanese, but Dutch, lain by the Dutch minelayer [[HNLMS Gouden Leeuw|''Gouden Leeuw'']]. Shortly thereafter, around 22.00 while now headed north, the Striking Force passed through the former battlegrounds and sighted men in the water. HMS ''Encounter'', the lone remaining destroyer, was ordered to pick up the survivors, who turned out to be 113 men from the earlier sinking of ''Kortenaer'', and after doing so retired to Surabaya.<ref>https://pacificwrecks.com/ship/hms/encounter/report-of-proceedings-of-hms-encounter.pdf</ref><ref> D. Kehn Jnr, pp 326. In The Highest Degree Tragic, 2017.</ref><ref> T. Womack, pp 227. The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier, 2014.</ref><ref>G. Jungslager, pp 444. Forlorn Hope, 2012</ref><ref>G. Hermon Gill, pp 614. Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942, 1957.</ref><ref>W. Remmelink, pp 120. You Engage and Then You See, 2019. https://militairespectator.nl/sites/default/files/teksten/bestanden/Militaire%20Spectator%203-2019%20Remmelink.pdf</ref><ref>USN Combat Narratives. The Java Sea Campaign.  pp 61 https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/war-and-conflict/wwii/javaseacampaign/java_sea_75th_anniversary_ed.pdf</ref> Doorman now had not a single destroyer in his force, leaving him only his remaining heavy cruiser ''Houston'' and light cruisers ''De Ruyter'', ''Java'', and ''Perth''. But Doorman charged on, still hoping for victory.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=HNLMS De Ruyter - uboat.net |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2866.html}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Alden (Destroyer No. 211) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/alden.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=public2.nhhcaws.local |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 10</ref>

=== Night ambush ===
Unknown to Doorman, ''Haguro's'' floatplane had been tracking his force the entire time. Takagi believed he had secured a victory as his ships made post-battle reformations. ''Asagumo's'' crew conducted temporary repairs following her gunfight with ''Electra'', getting the engine back up and running as she regained speed, retiring from the engagement and taking ''Minegumo'' to escort her. ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' stopped in the water to recover their floatplanes, which had been catapulted shortly before the battle, but while this was being conducted, one of ''Haguro's'' floatplanes still in the air noticed Doorman's fleet turning back, much to Takagi's shock.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />
[[File:NH 73021 NACHI (Japanese Cruiser, 1927).jpg|thumb|''Nachi'' anchored off [[Ōminato Guard District|Ōminato]] on 13 November 1943]]
''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' instantly picked up speed and raced to engage the enemy yet again. ''Haguro's'' floatplane this time tracked Doorman's every movement, which were now far more predictable than earlier in the battle. It was just before midnight that the Japanese optical systems picked up the enemy force at long range. Steaming at maximum speed, ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi'' closed to 16,000 yards. Low on ammunition for their main guns, they instead opted for a stealthy torpedo attack, in which ''Nachi'' unleashed eight torpedoes, and ''Haguro'' four.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

The Allied fleet detected the torpedos at 23:32 and took evasive action, but ''Java'', at the end of the [[Line of battle|battle line]], did not turn fast enough. A torpedo struck near her stern and ignited her magazine. The resulting explosion was so violent that {{Convert|100|ft|m}} of her stern was blown off and heat was felt onboard other ships in formation. Damage control was hopeless, and she sank in about 15 minutes.<ref name=":74">{{Cite book |last=Cox |first=Jeffrey |title=Rising Sun, Falling Skies: The Disastrous Java Sea Campaign of World War II |date=2014 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing Plc |isbn=978-1-4728-1060-1 |series=General Military |location=London}}</ref>{{Rp|page=316-317|pages=}} Only 19 crewmembers survived.<ref name=":82">{{Cite book |last=Whitley |first=M. J. (Michael J. ) |url=https://archive.org/details/cruisers-of-wwii-enciclopedia-images/page/192/mode/2up?q=%22De+Ruyter%22+ |title=Cruisers of World War Two : an international encyclopedia |date=1995 |publisher=London : Arms and Armour Press |isbn=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=190}}

[[File:Haguro-2.jpg|thumb|''Haguro'' under refit in 1936.]]
Four minutes later, one of ''Haguro's'' torpedoes hit Admiral Doorman's flagship. All power was destroyed as the ''De Ruyter'' stopped dead in the water with significant flooding, and a massive fire broke out and enveloped the cruiser. ''Haguro's'' torpedo hit killed much of ''De Ruyter's'' damage control crew, and the loss of all power disabled much of ''De Ruyter's'' damage control equipment, meaning the massive fire could spread throughout the ship. Simultaneously, flooding slowly overwhelmed damage control and ''De Ruyter'' increasingly listed. Over a period of three hours, fires and flooding overwhelmed ''De Ruyter'' as she capsized and sank with the loss of 367 men. Admiral Doorman and Captain [[Eugène Lacomblé]] were among the dead.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=encyclopedia |first=naval |date=2021-05-27 |title=HNLMS De Ruyter, Dutch KNIL light cruiser (1935) |url=https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ww2/netherlands/de-ruyter.php |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=naval encyclopedia |language=en-US}}</ref>

Shouts of "Banzai" could be heard from ''Haguro'' and ''Nachi's'' decks as crew members leaped for joy and hugged each other in excitement. Admiral Takagi chose not to attack with gunfire afterwards, knowing ''Java'' and ''De Ruyter'' were already fatally damaged. The pair steamed out of the area to reinforce the invasion convoy. Depending on the source, they were either undetected, or were spotted but untouched by ineffective gunfire. With Doorman dead, ''Houston'' and ''Perth'' abandoned the mission and retreated. Meanwhile, as the US destroyers evacuated the battlefield they ran into ''Amatsukaze'' and ''Hatsukaze''. Both sides exchanged fire, but no hits were scored and the US destroyers continued on their path while ''Amatsukaze'' and ''Hatsukaze'' regrouped with the fleet.<ref name=":0" />

With almost all of their ships sunk or damaged, the remaining allied warships halted all offensive actions and attempted to flee the vicinity, leaving the Dutch East Indies to the invaders. The Japanese convoys continued to Surabaya unmolested, aside from an air raid that damaged a single troopship. All the Allies had accomplished was that the troops on Java received a one-day respite, which ultimately changed nothing. ''Perth'' and ''Houston'' proceeded to [[Tanjung Priok]], arriving later that day. However, oil shortages meant they could be only half fueled, and they received no new ammunition.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Hornfischer (2006) Chapter 12</ref>

In the first battle of the Java Sea, not a single Japanese ship was sunk, and besides ''Electra'', not a single allied ship even managed to hit a Japanese ship.