Battle of Badung Strait

On the 18 January 1942 two Japanese transports landed a battalion of the 48th infantry on the island of Bali. Admiral Doorman was unable to ignore an invasion of an island with an airbase within range of the principle ABDA base of Surabaya.
Doorman soon devised a plan to strike back at the Japanese. He would send whatever available ships to the area to destroy the invasion fleet in waves. The first wave would consist of the Dutch light cruisers De Ruyter and Java destroyers Piet Hein and Korenaer as well as US destroyers Pope and John D Ford. They would fire rain down fire on the Japanese and launch a torpedo attack, before retiring to the north to give way for the second wave. The second wave would consist of the Dutch light cruiser Tromp and US destroyers Stewart, Parrott, John D Edwards, and Pillsbury.

After being attacked by some 20 B-17’s The Japanese rushed the landing and most of the escort force had departed leaving only the two transports Sasago Maru and Sagami Maru and destroyers Asashio, Oshio, Arashio, and Michishio. Shortly before midnight the last of the Japanese ships departed the anchorage at Sanur Roads.

It was a dark and cloudy night, making visibility difficult. Nonetheless, the Japanese were spotted and at 2225 Java opened the battle. In response the Japanese destroyers Oshio and Asashio lit up the night with star shells. The ships fired upon each other with no effect. While the allied cruisers moved NE at high speed the destroyers followed with Piet Hein in the lead by about 5500 yards. When in range the destroyer launched a torpedo and opened fire while executing a turn back to the south. The sharp turn threw a crewman against the Make Smoke button. The smoke confused the US destroyer captains and blocked their visibility even more. The American destroyer increased speed and burst thru the smoke to find the transport Sasago Maru headed NW. They launched torpedoes and opened fire claiming hits with both, although unlikely either hit. By now the Japanese where in position to launch a torpedo attack of their own. At 2240 Piet Hein was hit with a long lance from Asashio, sinking almost immediately. The USS Ford began laying smoke as the American destroyers began to withdraw but the Japanese had taken up position on them. USS Pope was able to fire off 5 fish but all missed.

In the dark of night Asashio and Oshio mistook each other for allied ships and fired upon each other for a few minutes with no damage received. (both reported sinking an allied destroyer though.) The Japanese force would return to the anchorage to (assumably) repair minor damage from the engagement.

A few hours later the second ABDA force entered the scene with the American destroyers in the lead. For the second time of the night the allies would achieve surprise on the Japanese. All the destroyers launched torpedoes and every one missed or failed to detonate. Oshio and Asashio sailed out once again to meet this new threat. The two forces began to fire on each other at about the same time, striking the Stewart after three minutes. The accurate fire from the Japanese forced the fleet to turn away. The destroyers soon fell into disarray and the Parrott and Pillsbury almost collided with each other. The Two Japanese destroyers continued to follow. Just after 0200 the light cruiser Tromp was struck by eleven 5” shells from Asashio. The damage was enough to send her back to Australia for repair. At 210 Tromp would strike back with hits on Oshio. At this point, after defeating two separate Allied forces the Oshio and Asashio turned back once again for the anchorage.

HeadingNE and hugging the coast the USS Parrott ran aground at 0220, knocking her out of the fight. Shortly after the Japanese destroyers Arashio and Michishio appeared from the northeast on a southwest heading. The two destroyers found themselves directly between the Allied ships, with Tromp and Pillsbury on the port beam and the Edwards and Steward on the starboard beam. All fire seemed to be directed at Michishio, and soon she was going dead in the water. The two forces passed each other, and continued away from the battle.

The Dutch MTB’s had no influence on the battle. After arrival the Eastern Group sighted some ships but where unable to get into a position to fire torpedoes.

Asashio received light damage while Oshio took some more moderate damage. The best the Allied force could do was damage Michishio badly enough to put her out of action until October. Things where worse for the Allies. Tromp was badly damaged and Piet Hein had been sunk. The damage received by Stewart needed a dry-dock to repair. She would soon suffer the worst of all outcomes, capture and service in the IJN.

 

Boy, do I love it when I find people interested in the early days in the Pacific...

 

Here is more about the fate of the USS Stewart (not Steward) on the website The Phantom Destroyer (WWII USS Stewart in Japanese Service)

 

Ah Damnit, thats what I get for letting spell check do the work

 

The story of the Stewart deserves a thread of its own. Fascinating!