Editing Battle of the Java Sea (section)

==== 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]]