Contributed by Tony DiGiulian
Updated 18 May 2008
Allied Forces
CA Exeter (68) (sunk, 651 survivors)
Capt. O.L. Gordon RN
DD Encounter (H.10) (sunk, 149 survivors)
Lt. Cdr. Morgan
DD Pope (DD-225) (sunk, 150 survivors)
Lt. Cdr. W.C. Blinn
USN
Imperial Japanese Navy
Support Force 3rd Fleet
Vice Admiral Takahashi
Ibo
CA Ashigara (F)
CA Myoko
DD Akebono
DD Ikazuchi
Cruiser Division 5 (Sentai
5)
Rear Admiral Takagi
Takeo
CA Nachi (F)
CA Haguro
Destroyer Division 24
DD Kawakaze
DD Yamakaze
Note
Exeter had been damaged during the Java Sea Battle and could only make 23 knots despite a heroic effort by her engineering crew. In an hour and forty-five minutes of combat, Myoko and Ashigara fired a total of 1,171 8in (20.3 cm) rounds. Nachi fired 170 and Haguro fired 118 8in (20.3 cm) rounds. A total of 25 torpedoes were fired by the Japanese, of which only one hit, a Type 90 from Ikazuchi that finished off Exeter. In total, the Japanese fired 2,650 rounds of all calibers during this battle. The number of Allied rounds fired is unknown, but Exeter fired three torpedoes and Pope eleven, all of which missed. Encounter had no torpedoes at her final battle.
The ships listed above all participated
in the surface action. In addition, after Exeter and Encounter were
sunk, Pope was attacked by ten Type 0 "Pete" spotter planes from seaplane
carrier Chitose which dropped 60 kg (132 lbs.) bombs and by six Type 97
"Kate" attack bombers from the light carrier Ruyko which dropped six 250
kg (550 lbs.) and twenty-four 60 kg (132 lbs.) bombs. Pope fired
75 3in (7.62 cm) rounds during this action before her single AA gun jammed.
Pope was disabled by this aerial attack and her captain ordered scuttling
charges set and the crew to abandon ship. At the time of her sinking,
Pope was the last Allied warship in the Java Sea.
The US Navy Against the Axis: Surface
Combat 1941-1945 by Vincent P. O'Hara