History of the cruiser Java

Java

Hr. Ms. Java was a Java-class cruiser

May 31 1916 Hr Ms. Java is laid down at Koninklijke Mij "De Schelde", Vlissingen

August 9 1921 Java is launched

May 1 1925 Java is completed after countless delays, such as strikes by the dockyardworkers, shortages of materials and modifications to the original design.

December 4 1928 Fleet revue at Yokohama to celebrate the coronation of Japan's emperor.

May 20 1937 Fleetrevue at Spithead

1937 The Java is modernized at the Naval Dockyard in Den Helder, Holland. The modifications include adding an AA-battery of 4 double Bofors 40 mm-guns, replacing the fire control system with a new Hazemeyer set and shortening the masts.

January 3 1938 Java is commissioned with her new "look". She was sent to Gibraltar Strait to escort Dutch ships shortly after.

May 4 1938 Java leaves for the Dutch Indies via Suez.

April 1940 The cruisers Java and De Ruyter, the supplyship Zuiderkruis and two divisions of submarines are on stand-by in the Java sea after rumours about a Japanese fleetconcentration near Formosa.

April 27 1940 Commander, later Captain, Ph.B.M. van Straelen assumes command.

May 10 1940 Germany attacks Holland in the early morning. This means for the the NEI, that all German merchant ships were to be captured as soon as possible. A boarding party of the Java succesfully captures the Hapag-freighters Bitterfeld (7659 gt), Wuppertal (6737 gt) and Rheinland (6622 gt) in Padang.

January 18 1941 The Java makes here first convoy trip from the Ajoe archipelago with the merchants Brastagi ( 9247 tons gross weight), Kota Nopan (7332 gross tons ) , Kota Baroe (7281 gt) and Kota Tjandi (7295 gt). The convoy was dissolved on January 23 in position 03.00 South, 161.25 East.

March 1941 A refit is hastily broken off after the news the panzerschiff Admiral Scheer was operating in the Indian Ocean. Despite search efforts by both ships and aircraft, nothing was found.

April 23 1941 Java leaves Suva with two merchants, bound for Brisbane, Australia

July 1941 Java makes rendez-vous in Torres Strait with the passengership Jagersfontein (10083 gt), which has a contingent of American aviators on board, which later become known as the famous "Flying Tigers". She escorts the ship to Java.

November 1941 The Java is on escort duty between Suva and Soerabaja.

December 8 1941 The Netherlands declares war on Japan after the attack on the American base Pearl Harbor. The Java was at this time enroute to Singapore where she was to operate under command of the British Admiral Layton. The Java is part of most convoys bound for Singapore until early February, but also makes a trip to the Cocos Islands to find out if it was still free of Japanese troops.

December 12 1941 Java departs Singapore to rendez-vous with convoy SM 1 (3 British, 1 Greek and 2 American ships). She escorts it from December 13 to December 15, together with the Dutch destroyer Evertsen, the Australian armed merchant cruiser Kanimbla, and the British destroyers HMS Encounter, Stronghold and Tenedos

December 31 1941 The Java is part of the escort for convoy BM 9B, but has to break off because of propellor damage.

January 18 1942 The cruiser Java and the destroyers Evertsen and Van Nes make rendez-vous with convoy MS-2, which consisted of the large liner Aquitania with HMAS Canberra as ocean escort. This ship has about 3500 men aboard bound for Singapore. The convoy arrives in Ratai Bay on Sumatra where the troops transfer to six smaller Dutch KPM-steamers and one small British ship. This convoy then leaves for Singapore (now designated MS 2A) where it arrives safely on January 24. The Java is also part of this convoy.

January 26 1942 A report came in about a Japanese concentration of ships off western Borneo, near the Api passage. Admiral Helfrich orders the cruisers Java and Tromp with destroyers Banckert and Piet Hein to intercept and destroy this convoy. Later reports show the "convoy" consists of one freighter and numerous very small vessels, after which the Dutch ships retreat.

January 31 1942 Java joins the the escort for convoy DM 2, which arrives in Singapore on February 5. Java had already detached itself on February 4 due to fuel shortage. She becomes part of the Combined Striking Force on February 3, probably.

February 13 1942 Java joins the Eastern Striking Force (cruisers De Ruyter and Tromp under Rear-Admiral Doorman) in the afternoon while it passed through Sunda Strait. This force is enroute to intercept a Japanese convoy bound for the important port Palembang on North-Sumatra. Doorman decides to wait for destroyers to assist him and he plots a course for Oosthaven on Sumatra. On arrival, the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and the light cruiser HMAS Hobart join him. The destroyers arrive the next day.

February 14 1942 The fleet leaves Oosthaven in the afternoon for the Gaspar Straits with the following strength: cruisers De Ruyter, Tromp, Java, HMS Exeter and HMAS Hobart along with the Dutch destroyers Van Ghent, Kortenaer, Piet Hein and Banckert and the American Barker, Stewart, Bulmer, John D. Edwards, Pillsbury and Parrott. The ships head for an area notorious for navigational hazards.

February 15 1942 At about 0430 hours in the morning, the destroyer Van Ghent hits the Bamidjo reef in Stolze Strait. Doorman had ordered a relatively dangerous formation with the four Dutch destroyers steaming alongside eachother. Banckert and the American destroyers could barely miss the reef. After leaving Stolze Strait at about 0800 hours, the fleet sets a western course about 45 minutes later. Unfortunately, they are spotted by a Japanese plane at 0920 hours (a catapultplane from the Japanese heavy cruiser Chokai) and a few hours later, the first aircraft attack. It were seven "Kate"-torpedobombers from the carrier Ryujo, this time not armed with torpedoes but with bombs. None of the ships was hit. They were later reinforced by numerous other aircraft, but no ships sustain "real" damage, although the Barker and Bulmer are pretty beaten up.

Java under air attack, February 15 1942.

February 16 1942 The Striking force enters Tandjong Priok ( Batavia ) at 0830 except for the Java and destroyers, which have a smaller oil capacity. These ships refuel in Ratai Bay on Sumatra from the Dutch tanker Tan 1. Doorman leaves in the night for Tjilatjap.

February 17 1942 Arrival in Tjilatjap

February 18 1942 Departure from Tjiltjap in the evening for an attack on the Bali landingforces. She's accompanied by the cruiser Java and the destroyers Kortenaer, Piet Hein, Ford en Pope. The first ships leave the harbor safely, but Kortenaer is not so fortunate. She stranded on a sandbar and has to wait for the tide. A second force leaves Soerabaja later this day.

February 19 1942 Nightaction off Bali. Read more about the Battle of Badungstrait here. The Java was hit by one 4.7-inch shell during this engagement, which wounded two men and did some minor damage.

February 20 1942 Arrival in Soerabaja

February 25 1942 The Striking force (De Ruyter, Java, Houston and 7 destroyers) goes to sea in the evening to make a sweep off the Madoera coast. No ships are sighted, the ships arrive in Soerabaja on the 26th.

February 26 1942 Nightsweep in the Java sea with the Striking Force. The ships are attacked by aircraft at 0900 in the morning of the 27th and Jupiter is missed by light bombs, but didn't sustain any damage. Arrival in Soerabaja on the 27th.

February 27 1942 Doorman leaves port in the evening of the 27th to intercept several convoys heading for Java. Unfortunately, he was spotted and engaged by the Japanese covering force, consisting of 2 heavy cruisers (Nachi and Haguro), 2 light cruisers and 14 destroyers. The effectiveness of the CSF was hampered by difficulties in communication. In addition, the Japanese had a 2 to 1 advantage in 8"-guns. The Java was hit by a Japanese "Long Lance" torpedo from the Nachi at about 23.32 hours near the aft ammunitionstack, which exploded. The AA-deck with the 40 mm-guns caught fire and the stern broke off near the longroom, causing flooding in the aft engineroom and a heavy list to port. All electrical equipment shut down and the only thing the crew could do, was to abandon ship as soon as possible. No boats could be lowered without electricity, so all possible livesavers were thrown overboard, such as rafts, bamboosticks etc. The Java sank in about fifteen minutes, taking 512 crewmembers (including Captain Ph.B.M. van Straelen) with her. She sank in position 06.00 S, 112.05 E.

Approximate sinking position of Java and De Ruyter

December 1, 2002 A diver expedition on board the motor vessel Empress which initially set out to find HMS Exeter, find the wrecks of the light cruisers Java and De Ruyter. The wreck of Java lies at a depth of 69 metres on her starboard side.

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May 31 1916	Hr Ms. Java is laid down at Koninklijke Mij "De Schelde", Vlissingen
August 9 1921	Java is launched
May 1 1925	Java is completed after countless delays, such as strikes by the dockyardworkers, shortages of materials and modifications to the original design.
December 4 1928	Fleet revue at Yokohama to celebrate the coronation of Japan's emperor.
May 20 1937	Fleetrevue at Spithead
1937	The Java is modernized at the Naval Dockyard in Den Helder, Holland. The modifications include adding an AA-battery of 4 double Bofors 40 mm-guns, replacing the fire control system with a new Hazemeyer set and shortening the masts.
January 3 1938	Java is commissioned with her new "look". She was sent to Gibraltar Strait to escort Dutch ships shortly after.
May 4 1938	Java leaves for the Dutch Indies via Suez.
April 1940	The cruisers Java and De Ruyter, the supplyship Zuiderkruis and two divisions of submarines are on stand-by in the Java sea after rumours about a Japanese fleetconcentration near Formosa.
April 27 1940	Commander, later Captain, Ph.B.M. van Straelen assumes command.
May 10 1940	Germany attacks Holland in the early morning. This means for the the NEI, that all German merchant ships were to be captured as soon as possible. A boarding party of the Java succesfully captures the Hapag-freighters Bitterfeld (7659 gt), Wuppertal (6737 gt) and Rheinland (6622 gt) in Padang.
January 18 1941	The Java makes here first convoy trip from the Ajoe archipelago with the merchants Brastagi ( 9247 tons gross weight), Kota Nopan (7332 gross tons ) , Kota Baroe (7281 gt) and Kota Tjandi (7295 gt). The convoy was dissolved on January 23 in position 03.00 South, 161.25 East.
March 1941	A refit is hastily broken off after the news the panzerschiff Admiral Scheer was operating in the Indian Ocean. Despite search efforts by both ships and aircraft, nothing was found.
April 23 1941	Java leaves Suva with two merchants, bound for Brisbane, Australia
July 1941	Java makes rendez-vous in Torres Strait with the passengership Jagersfontein (10083 gt), which has a contingent of American aviators on board, which later become known as the famous "Flying Tigers". She escorts the ship to Java.
November 1941	The Java is on escort duty between Suva and Soerabaja.
December 8 1941	The Netherlands declares war on Japan after the attack on the American base Pearl Harbor. The Java was at this time enroute to Singapore where she was to operate under command of the British Admiral Layton. The Java is part of most convoys bound for Singapore until early February, but also makes a trip to the Cocos Islands to find out if it was still free of Japanese troops.
December 12 1941	Java departs Singapore to rendez-vous with convoy SM 1 (3 British, 1 Greek and 2 American ships). She escorts it from December 13 to December 15, together with the Dutch destroyer Evertsen, the Australian armed merchant cruiser Kanimbla, and the British destroyers HMS Encounter, Stronghold and Tenedos
December 31 1941	The Java is part of the escort for convoy BM 9B, but has to break off because of propellor damage.
January 18 1942	The cruiser Java and the destroyers Evertsen and Van Nes make rendez-vous with convoy MS-2, which consisted of the large liner Aquitania with HMAS Canberra as ocean escort. This ship has about 3500 men aboard bound for Singapore. The convoy arrives in Ratai Bay on Sumatra where the troops transfer to six smaller Dutch KPM-steamers and one small British ship. This convoy then leaves for Singapore (now designated MS 2A) where it arrives safely on January 24. The Java is also part of this convoy.
January 26 1942	A report came in about a Japanese concentration of ships off western Borneo, near the Api passage. Admiral Helfrich orders the cruisers Java and Tromp with destroyers Banckert and Piet Hein to intercept and destroy this convoy. Later reports show the "convoy" consists of one freighter and numerous very small vessels, after which the Dutch ships retreat.
January 31 1942	Java joins the the escort for convoy DM 2, which arrives in Singapore on February 5. Java had already detached itself on February 4 due to fuel shortage. She becomes part of the Combined Striking Force on February 3, probably.
February 13 1942	Java joins the Eastern Striking Force (cruisers De Ruyter and Tromp under Rear-Admiral Doorman) in the afternoon while it passed through Sunda Strait. This force is enroute to intercept a Japanese convoy bound for the important port Palembang on North-Sumatra. Doorman decides to wait for destroyers to assist him and he plots a course for Oosthaven on Sumatra. On arrival, the heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and the light cruiser HMAS Hobart join him. The destroyers arrive the next day.
February 14 1942	The fleet leaves Oosthaven in the afternoon for the Gaspar Straits with the following strength: cruisers De Ruyter, Tromp, Java, HMS Exeter and HMAS Hobart along with the Dutch destroyers Van Ghent, Kortenaer, Piet Hein and Banckert and the American Barker, Stewart, Bulmer, John D. Edwards, Pillsbury and Parrott. The ships head for an area notorious for navigational hazards.
February 15 1942	At about 0430 hours in the morning, the destroyer Van Ghent hits the Bamidjo reef in Stolze Strait. Doorman had ordered a relatively dangerous formation with the four Dutch destroyers steaming alongside eachother. Banckert and the American destroyers could barely miss the reef. After leaving Stolze Strait at about 0800 hours, the fleet sets a western course about 45 minutes later. Unfortunately, they are spotted by a Japanese plane at 0920 hours (a catapultplane from the Japanese heavy cruiser Chokai) and a few hours later, the first aircraft attack. It were seven "Kate"-torpedobombers from the carrier Ryujo, this time not armed with torpedoes but with bombs. None of the ships was hit. They were later reinforced by numerous other aircraft, but no ships sustain "real" damage, although the Barker and Bulmer are pretty beaten up. Java under air attack, February 15 1942.
February 16 1942	The Striking force enters Tandjong Priok ( Batavia ) at 0830 except for the Java and destroyers, which have a smaller oil capacity. These ships refuel in Ratai Bay on Sumatra from the Dutch tanker Tan 1. Doorman leaves in the night for Tjilatjap.
February 17 1942	Arrival in Tjilatjap
February 18 1942	Departure from Tjiltjap in the evening for an attack on the Bali landingforces. She's accompanied by the cruiser Java and the destroyers Kortenaer, Piet Hein, Ford en Pope. The first ships leave the harbor safely, but Kortenaer is not so fortunate. She stranded on a sandbar and has to wait for the tide. A second force leaves Soerabaja later this day.
February 19 1942	Nightaction off Bali. Read more about the Battle of Badungstrait here. The Java was hit by one 4.7-inch shell during this engagement, which wounded two men and did some minor damage.
February 20 1942	Arrival in Soerabaja
February 25 1942	The Striking force (De Ruyter, Java, Houston and 7 destroyers) goes to sea in the evening to make a sweep off the Madoera coast. No ships are sighted, the ships arrive in Soerabaja on the 26th.
February 26 1942	Nightsweep in the Java sea with the Striking Force. The ships are attacked by aircraft at 0900 in the morning of the 27th and Jupiter is missed by light bombs, but didn't sustain any damage. Arrival in Soerabaja on the 27th.
February 27 1942	Doorman leaves port in the evening of the 27th to intercept several convoys heading for Java. Unfortunately, he was spotted and engaged by the Japanese covering force, consisting of 2 heavy cruisers (Nachi and Haguro), 2 light cruisers and 14 destroyers. The effectiveness of the CSF was hampered by difficulties in communication. In addition, the Japanese had a 2 to 1 advantage in 8"-guns. The Java was hit by a Japanese "Long Lance" torpedo from the Nachi at about 23.32 hours near the aft ammunitionstack, which exploded. The AA-deck with the 40 mm-guns caught fire and the stern broke off near the longroom, causing flooding in the aft engineroom and a heavy list to port. All electrical equipment shut down and the only thing the crew could do, was to abandon ship as soon as possible. No boats could be lowered without electricity, so all possible livesavers were thrown overboard, such as rafts, bamboosticks etc. The Java sank in about fifteen minutes, taking 512 crewmembers (including Captain Ph.B.M. van Straelen) with her. She sank in position 06.00 S, 112.05 E. Approximate sinking position of Java and De Ruyter
December 1, 2002	A diver expedition on board the motor vessel Empress which initially set out to find HMS Exeter, find the wrecks of the light cruisers Java and De Ruyter. The wreck of Java lies at a depth of 69 metres on her starboard side.