HMS Encounter (H10)

HMS "Encounter" (H10) was an E class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched by Hawthorn Leslie in 1934.

In the Second Battle of the Java Sea (1942), HMS "Encounter" and USS "Pope" were directed to escort HMS "Exeter" away from the action. On the evening of 28 February 1942 the heavy cruiser and two destroyers left Soerabaja and proceeded north. Japanese surface and air forces launched an attack the next morning, midway between Java and Borneo. The three Allied ships fought four Japanese heavy cruisers and four destroyers throughout a fierce three-hour action. Shortly before noon 1 March 1942, the two British ships were destroyed by gunfire, and an hour later USS "Pope" was attacked and sunk by 12 dive-bombers after sustaining many direct hits.

The following day, the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer "Ikazuchi" rescued 442 survivors from HMS "Encounter" and USS "Pope". The survivors had been adrift for some 20 hours, in rafts and lifejackets or clinging to floats, many coated in oil and unable to see. Among the rescued was Sir Sam Falle, later a British diplomat.Citation
author = BBC News
author-link = British Broadcasting Corporation
title = Reunion for sailor saved by enemy
date = 2003-06-13
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/2986762.stm |accessdate = 2008-06-29 ] This humanitarian decision by Lieutenant Commander Shunsaku Kudō placed the "Ikazuchi" at risk of submarine attack, and interfered with her fighting ability due to the sheer numbers of rescued sailors. The action was later the subject of a bookCitation
last = Megumi
first = Ryuunosuke
author-link = :ja:惠隆之介
title = 敵兵を救助せよ!—英国兵422名を救助した駆逐艦「雷」工藤艦長
place = Tokyo, Japan
publisher = Soshisha Publishing Company
date = 2006-07-05
url = http://www.soshisha.com/book_search/detail/1_1499.html
isbn = 978-4-7942-1499-7] Citation
last = hisashi
title = Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi
date = 2007-05-21
url = http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=120892&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
accessdate = 2008-06-29 . This forum discussion contains a brief summary of the 2006 Megumi book's account of the HMS Encounter and USS Pope rescues.] and a 2007 TV programme.Citation
first = James
title = The Untold story of Captain Kudo Shunsaku and the Destroyer Ikazuchi
date = 2007-05-19
url = http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1772
accessdate = 2008-06-29 ] cite video
people = gyokai
title = 日本の武士道１　Japanese BUSIDO saved lives
medium = video
publisher = YouTube
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRcOmYgdp4E | accessdate = 2008-06-29
year2 = 2007 In Japanese. See also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QByCyliKXcI&feature=related part 2] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_SbowJUWV4&feature=related part 3] .] Citation
last = 伊勢
first = 雅臣
title = 駆逐艦「雷」艦長・工藤俊作
language = Japanese
date = 2006-08-13
year = 2006
url = http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~nippon/jogdb_h18/jog458.html
accessdate = 2008-06-29 . In Japanese. A summary of the 2007 television program.]

References