Battle of the Java Sea

The Battle of the Java Sea was a decisive battle of World War II that confirmed Allied supremacy in the East Indies. As the Allies pushed Japanese forces off of Java, the Japanese sent a battleline to challenge the British, Commonwealth, French and Dutch navies which were operating in the region. On 15 November, 1942, the Japanese battleline was detected by the Allies, who launched a mass air attack from carrier forces in the region. The attack devastated the Japanese force, sinking the battleships Yamato, Nagato and Mutsu, damaging two other battleships, and sinking an additional eleven destroyers and one cruiser.

Participants

Commonwealth

• HMS Illustrious
• HMS Indomitable
• HMS Implacable
• HMCS Vimy Ridge
• HMAS Melbourne

Japan

• Yamato †
• Nagato †
• Mutsu †
• Nagara
• Maya
• Kumano
• Nata