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Receiving word that the major Japanese invasion force was approaching
Java protected by a formidable surface unit, Admiral Doorman resolutely
determined to meet and seek to destroy the main convoy. Sailing 26
February with HOUSTON, HMAS PERTH, HNMS DE RUYTER, HMS EXETER, HNMS
JAVA and 10 destroyers, he met the Japanese support force under Admiral
Takagi consisting of 4 cruisers and 13 destroyers. In the Battle of
the Java Sea which followed, Doorman's forces fought valiantly, but
were doomed by lack of air cover and communication difficulties.
The ships met for the first time in the late afternoon, and as Japanese
destroyers laid smoke the cruisers of both fleets opened fire. After
one ineffective torpedo attack the Japanese light cruisers and destroyers
launched a second at 1700, this attack sinking KORTENAER. EXETER and
destroyer ELECTRA were hit by gunfire, ELECTRA fatally, and at 1730
Admiral Doorman turned south toward the Java coast, not wishing to
be diverted from his main purpose, the destruction of the convoy itself.
With dogged fighting spirit he dodged another torpedo attack and followed
the coastline, during which time JUPITER was sunk, either by mine
or internal explosion.
Then ENCOUNTER was detached to pick up survivors from KORTENAER, and
the American destroyers, their torpedoes expended, were ordered back
to Surabaya. Now with no destroyer protection, Doorman's four remaining
ships turned north again in a last gallant attempt to stop the invasion
of Java. At 2300 the same night, the cruisers again encountered the
Japanese surface group. On parallel courses the opposing units opened
fire, and the Japanese launched a devastating torpedo attack 30 minutes
later. DE RUYTER and JAVA, caught in a spread of 12 torpedoes, exploded
and sank, carrying their captains and Admiral Doorman down with them.
Before losing contact with PERTH and HOUSTON, Doorman had ordered
them to retire. This was accomplished, but the next day the two ships
steamed boldly into Banten Bay, hoping to damage the Japanese invasion
forces there. The cruisers were almost torpedoed as they approached
the bay, but evaded the nine torpedoes launched by destroyed FUBUKI.
The cruisers then sank one transport and forced three others to beach.
A destroyer squadron blocked Sunda Strait, their means of retreat,
and on the other hand large cruisers MOGAMI and MIKUMA stood dangerously
near. The result was foreordained, but HOUSTON and PERTH fought valiantly.
PERTH came under fire at 2336 and in an hour had been sunk from gunfire
and torpedo hits. HOUSTON then fought alone, her guns blazing at the
enemy all around her, a champion at bay. Soon after midnight she took
a torpedo and began to lose headway. During this time HOUSTON's gunners
scored hits on three different destroyers and sank a minesweeper,
but suffered three more torpedo explosions in quick succession.
Captain Rooks was killed by a bursting shell at 0030 and as the ship
came to a stop. Japanese destroyers swarmed over her machine gunning
the decks. A few minutes later the gallant HOUSTON, her name written
imperishably in the records of heroism, rolled over and sank, her
ensign still flying.
HOUSTON's fate was not known by the world for almost 9 months, and
the full story of her courageous fight was not fully told until after
the war was over and her survivors were liberated from prison camps.
Captain Rooks received posthumously the Medal of Honor for this extraordinary
heroism.In addition to two battle stars, HOUSTON was awarded the Presidential
Unit Citation. |
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