Battle of Makassar Strait

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Makassar Strait


caption=USS "Marblehead" in February 1942, showing bomb damage received in the battle
partof=World War II, Pacific War
date=4 February 1942
place=Bali Sea, Dutch East Indies
result=Japanese victory
combatant1=flag|United States|1912
flag|Netherlands
combatant2=flag|Japan|alt
commander1=Karel Doorman
commander2=Takeo Takagi
strength1=4 cruisers, 7 destroyers
strength2=37-45 planes (Allied estimate)
60 planes (Japanese reports)
casualties1=2 cruisers damaged, 70 seamen killed
casualties2=4+ planes destroyed|

The Battle of Makassar Strait, also known as the Action of Madura Strait, the Action North of Lombok Strait and the Battle of the Flores Sea, was a naval battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. An American-British-Dutch-Australian Command fleet, under Rear Admiral Karel Doorman, was on its way to intercept a Japanese invasion convoy bound for Surabaya, when it was attacked by 60 Japanese dive bombers, which forced the fleet to retreat.

(The battle occurred in the Bali Sea, closer to the Kangean Islands than to Makassar Strait. Also, this battle should not be confused with the Naval Battle of Balikpapan on 24 January 1942, which is also sometimes referred to as the "Battle of Makassar Strait".)

Background

At the end of January, Japanese forces had conquered the north and west coast of Borneo and large parts of Maluku (Moluccas). On Borneo's west coast, Japanese forces occupied the oil facilities and ports of Balikpapan and Tarakan, and on Celebes the cities of Menado and Kendari had also fallen. To gain full control of Makassar Strait, the Japanese needed to capture the cities of Makassar and Banjarmasin.

On February 1, Allied commanders received word from a reconnaissance plane: at Balikpapan a Japanese invasion force, consisting of 20 troop transport ships, three cruisers and 10 destroyers was preparing to sail. On February 2, Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Vice Admiral Conrad Helfrich, Rear Admiral William A. Glassford and Commodore John Collins met at Palembang; Helfrich's suggestion that a strike force be formed was approved. It was formed the following day under Admiral Karel Doorman, and began on supplies at the Gili Islands, south of Madura.

The ADBA force consisted of the cruisers
*HNLMS "De Ruyter" (flagship),
*HNLMS "Tromp",
*USS "Houston", and
*USS "Marblehead"

escorted by the Dutch destroyers
*"Bankert",
*"Piet Hein",
*"Van Ghent",

and the US destroyers
*"Barker",
*"Bulmer",
*"Edwards", and
*"Stewart".

Battle

On the morning of February 3, the ABDA strike force was spotted by a squadron of about 30 Japanese bombers heading towards Surabaya. Seven of the bombers showed special interest in the strike force and started circling above the ships. The ships initially dispersed to deeper water, but the planes left without attacking, and the strike force resumed taking on supplies.

At about midnight, the ships sailed for Meinderts Droogte (Meinderts Reef; later Karang Mas), off the north east tip of Java. The last ship arrived around 05:00 on February 4. At 09:30, the strike force received word that air patrols from Makassar had spotted the Japanese heading for Surabaya. On the morning of February 4, the ABDA strike force headed out for Makassar Strait, in search of the Japanese invasion force, which was reported to be passing through the straits and was now said to include three cruisers and 18 destroyers, escorting transports and other ships, under Rear Admiral Takeo Takagi. At 09:49, while Doorman's strike force was south of the Kangean Islands, Japanese bombers were sighted to the east by sailors on the ABDA ships. The Japanese planes where flying in four "v"-formations at an altitude of about 5,000 metres (15,000 ft).

The planes attacked the Allied cruisers. The first to be targeted was "Marblehead", and the bombs landed about 80 metres (88 yards) in front of the ship. During a second attack, "Marblehead" sustained two direct hits and a damaging near miss. The two direct hits penetrated the deck, killed 15 crew directly and destroyed the ship's ability to manoeuvre; "Marblehead" was now able only to sail in circles. The near miss also caused a hole three metres long by one metre wide, near the bottom of the ship. However, subsequent attacks on "Marblehead" were less intense.

The "Houston" initially evaded bombs successfully, but suffered a severe hit during a final attack; a bomb hit the deck near the aft gun turret, and killed 48 crew. The rear guns were rendered useless.

After the hits on "Houston" and "Marblehead", the planes focused on "De Ruyter", which evaded four attacks and sustained only minor damage to fire control for its 40 mm guns.

At about 13:00, Doorman ordered his ships to return west and signalled Hart that — without fighter plane protection — it would not be possible to advance to Makassar Strait, due to the threat from bombers. "Houston" and "Tromp" had already gone south through Alas Strait, and were south of the strait. "Marblehead" and the five US destroyers went south through Lombok Strait. The "De Ruyter" and the Dutch destroyers also stayed with the "Marblehead" until the Lombok Strait. Both US cruisers headed for Tjilatjap, to get repairs and medical attention for their wounded.

Aftermath

Japanese aircrews reported three cruisers sunk during the attack: one "Augusta class cruiser", one Tromp class cruiser type and one Java class cruiser. However, no ships of the latter class were present during the attack, and only "Marblehead" and "Houston" were damaged.

At Tjilatjap, "Houston" and "Marblehead" transferred their wounded to a hospital and buried their dead. The "Marblehead" would not fit in the dry dock, but the hole in the hull was temporarily repaired, and the ship sailed for the east coast of the US, by way of Ceylon and South Africa, for repairs. The "Houston" was able to continue service with the ABDA fleet.

The retreat of the strike force resulted in the Japanese taking control of Makassar Strait and thereby tightening their grip on the western part of the Dutch East Indies.

References

* Bezemer, K. W. L. "Zij Vochten Op De Zeven Zeeën." 5th ed. Utrecht: W. de Haan N.V., 1964. 243-247 nl
* Muir, Dan [http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Makassar.htm Order of Battle - Battle of Makassar Strait 1942]