Hms Exeter Wreck

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1929 BY DEVONPORT DOCKYARD. EIGHT 3-DRUM BOILERS, TURBINE ENGINES OF 80,000 IHP FOR 32 KNOTS. SIX 8 INCH, EIGHT 4 INCH, FOUR 3 PDR GUNS, 7 TORPEDO TUBES, 2 AIRCRAFT. FORMED AS ONE OF A FORCE OF CRUISERS AND DESTROYERS UNDER REAR ADMIRAL DOORMAN, RNLN, ENGAGED IN REPELLING A JAPANESE LANDING IN THE DUTCH EAST INDIES. THE FORCE COMPRISED: HMS EXETER, DUTCH CRUISERS DE RUYTER, 6450 TONS, SEVEN 5.9 INCH GUNS (FLAGSHIP) AND JAVA, 6670 TONS, TEN 5.9 INCH GUNS, US HEAVY CRUISER HOUSTON, 9050 TONS, NINE 8 INCH GUNS AND THE DUTCH DESTROYER KORTENAER WITH THE BRITISH DESTROYERS ELECTRA, ENCOUNTER AND JUPITER. THE JAPANESE FORCE CONSISTED OF CRUISERS NATI AND HAGURO, 10000 TONS, TEN 8 INCH GUNS, TWO LIGHTER CRUISERS AND ABOUT A DOZEN DESTROYERS. ACTION WAS JOINED AT ABOUT 1600 AND EXETER RECEIVED A HIT IN HER BOILER ROOM BY AN 8 INCH SHELL WHICH PUT SIX BOILERS OUT OF ACTION. UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH HER ESCORTS, SHE TURNED FOR SOURABAYA WHERE SHE MADE CONTACT WITH US DESTROYER POPE AND HMS ENCOUNTER AND COMMENCED PASSAGE FOR AUSTRALIA. THREE FURTHER BOILERS WERE CONNECTED OVERNIGHT GIVING HER 26 KNOTS, BUT NEXT MORNING THE GROUP RAN INTO THREE JAPANESE CRUISERS AND FOUR OR FIVE DESTROYERS. SHE WAS SUNK JUST BEFORE NOON BY HER COMPANY, HER BOILERS WRECKED AND ALL AMMUNITION EXPENDED. 54 OFFICERS AND MEN WERE LOST. OF THE SURVIVORS 152 DIED IN JAPANESE CAPTIVITY. ENCOUNTER SANK SHORTLY AFTER AND POPE WAS RELOCATED AND SUNK BY BOMBERS. (DODS).