Second Battle of the Java Sea

In the aftermath of the battle of the Java Sea, on 27th February 1942, the surviving allied (ABDA)ships had dispersed to find safe haven, but with Java under threat of invasion by the Japanese, it became necessary to retire further.

Each group of allied ships was forced to fight its way through the forces of the victorious Japanese, intent on completing their conquest of the Netherlands East Indies.

Most of these ships were lost in various actions around Java over the following days.