The Battle of the Java Sea - Japanese

As I assemble miniatures for World War II naval engagements my focus on building forces involved in specific battles. As such the Battle of the Java Sea is my current painting project. I intend to document the project in a series of short articles, this being the first it considerers the Japanese. 

As way of background the Dutch East Indies was one of Japan's primary targets in their southern offensive in late December and the early months of 1942. This was in part due significant resources of the area including rubber plantations and oil fields. Indeed, the Dutch colony was the fourth-largest exporter of oil in the world, behind the United States, Iran and Romania. As a result the theatre would become a critical naval area of operations and would involve several naval engagements. The largest naval battle of the campaign being the Battle of Java Sea on the 27th February 1941.

As Japanese gathered to strike at Java, the Allied naval force under Rear-Admiral Doorman sailed northeast from Surabaya to intercept a convoy of the Eastern Invasion Force approaching from the Makassar Strait. Covering the Japanese invasion convoy was a strong cruiser and destroyer force. Japanese naval forces protecting the invasion convoy consisted of two heavy cruisers, the Nachi and Haguro. In addition two light cruisers were available, the Naka and Jintsū. Finally, the cruisers were supported by 14 destroyers. The ensuring Battle of Java Sea would rage intermittently over seven hours as the Allies made repeated attempts to reach the invasion convoy only to rebuffed. 

The heavy cruiser Nachi in 1928

Lets take a short look at the Japanese forces in miniature. As before I am representing the forces using 1/3000th miniatures from the Navwar range.

The organisation of the Japanese forces is somewhat confusing. At a high level there were two main groups. The Eastern Attack Group and the Eastern Covering Group. The Eastern Attack Group, providing protection for the attacking amphibious forces, was commanded by Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura, comprised Destroyer Squadron 4 which for this operation contained two destroyer divisions. The Eastern Covering Group, commanded by Rear Admiral Takeo Takagi, comprised Cruiser Division 5, Destroyer Division 24, Destroyer Division 7, as well as Destroyer Squadron 2 which comprised Destroyer Division 16.

We will now consider the major surfaces elements. The heavy cruisers Nachi and Haguro formed Cruiser Division 5, which you will recall were assigned to the Eastern Covering Group. Both cruisers were from the Myōkō-class of cruisers, commissioned in 1928 and 1929 respectively. Both underwent two modernisations. The first was, and the more major was between 1934 and 1936, while the second was in 1939. After these modernisations they carried ten 8" guns in twin turrets and eight 12.7cm dual purpose guns also in twin mounts. In addition to an ever increasing light AA armament they carried four triple 24" long lance torpedo launchers. These two ships outgunned the Allied heavy cruisers considerably.

During the battle Nachi would sink the cruiser HNLMS Java while Haguro would sink both the destroyer HNLMS Kortenaer and then the Allied fleet's flagship, the cruiser HNLMS De Ruyter; both by torpedo. Below, Nachi and Haguro prepare for action.

As noted previously the heavy cruisers were supported by two light cruisers. The light cruisers Naka and Jintsū were from the Sendai class and both laid down in 1922 and completed in 1925. Their sistership Sendai, which was not present at the battle, was completed in 1924. Both Naka and Jintsū carried seven 5.5" guns in single mount turrets, a feature of the period of their design. By 1941 the main armament was supplemented by eight 24" torpedoes in two quadruple mounts, as well as light AA weapons of course. In December 1941 Naka become the flagship of the 4th Destroyer Squadron forming the Eastern Attack Group. The Jintsū was designated as flagship of the 2nd Destroyer Squadron and part of the as the Eastern Covering Group. 

Naka in 1925 prior to her commissioning

Above, the Naka with her distinctive profile including four stacks and forward facing single turrets. Below, the Naka and Jintsū in miniature. The layout is very similar to the above image but her torpedo placement had been modified by 1941.

Next we will look at the destroyers. The 14 destroyers were divided into five divisions with these divisions comprising either two or four destroyers depending on the division. We will first consider those that were allocated to the Eastern Attack Group which directly covered the troop transports for the attack on Java.

As mentioned previously the Flagship of Destroyer Squadron 4 was the light cruiser Naka and for the battle she commanded Destroyer Division 2 and Destroyer Division 9. 

Destroyer Division 2 comprised Yudachi, Samidare, Murasame and Harusame. All were Shiratsuyu-class destroyers, the class comprised ten destroyers in total, and were completed from 1936 to 1937. These vessels carried five 5" guns in single mounts as their main armament. These had a very high elevation. This was supplemented of by two quad 24" torpedo launchers and of course an ever changing light AA armament. Below, Destroyer Division 2.

Destroyer Division 9 comprised two destroyers, Minegumo and Asagumo, both from the Asashio-class. The ships carried six 5" guns but reverted to the previous Fubuki main battery layout of three twin turrets instead of the single gun turret design of the more recent Shiratsuyu. This was supplemented by by two quad 24" torpedo launchers. 

Notable points of the battle included Asagumo assisted in sinking the British destroyer HMS Electra, but having suffered several hits, and the temporary disabling of her engines, she was forced her to retire. Below, destroyers of Destroyer Division 9.

Below, the Eastern Attack Group with the light cruiser Naka in the middle with Destroyer Division 2 behind. Destroyer Division 9 is in the foreground.

Next we consider the destroyers of the Eastern Covering Group.

Destroyer Division 24 was nominally part of Destroyer Squadron 4, but for this operation was attached to the Eastern Covering Group. Destroyer Division 24 comprised two destroyers, Yamakaze and Kawakaze. Both were Shiratsuyu-class destroyers and carried the same armament as described previously. 

In the Battle of Java Sea they were primarily engaged against destroyers though in the battles immediately following both were credited with assisting in the sinking of the American destroyer USS Pope, the British cruiser HMS Exeter and destroyer HMS Encounter. Below, Yamakaza and Kawakaza come under fire.

Destroyer Division 7 also comprised just two destroyers, the Sazanami and Ushio. Both were Fubuki class destroyers of Group II. They were completed in 1931 to 1932. The main battery consisted of six 5" guns mounted in pairs. While the Group I vessels could elevate to around 40 degrees, the Group II (the last 14 vessels of the series), could be elevated to 70 degrees. Their armament was further supplemented by three triple 24" torpedo mounts. Below, Sazanami and Ushio are visible in the foreground, with Yamakaze and Kawakaze in the distance.

Destroyer Division 16 was the final division at the Battle of Java Sea. It comprised four destroyers from the Kagerō-class. They were the Yukikaze, Tokitsukaze, Amatsukaze and Hatsukaze. The Kagerō class comprised 19 vessels  Their main battery comprised six 5" guns in three twin-gun turrets. The torpedoes were mounted in two quadruple mounts.

Amatsukaze in October 1940

The photo of the Amatsukaze above, clearly shows her three turrets. Below, the four destroyers of Destroyer Division 16, including the Amatsukaze.

Finally, the full Eastern Covering Group is shown below. The heavy cruisers Nachi and Haguro of Cruiser Division 5 are in the centre with Jintsū in front. In the foreground is Destroyer Division 16 and in the background is Destroyer Division 24 and Destroyer Division 7.

In all some 18 ships which provide a strong force and, in wargaming terms, should provide an interesting spectacle when deployed on the table. The purist will perhaps point out I should complete the invasion transports but I will consider them off table and perhaps represent them with more generic merchant vessels.

In the second article of the series I will look at the Dutch vessels which, along with other elements, will be attempting to disrupt the Japanese invasion force. You can find it here.