The Warspite had used the cover of darkness and her radar to close, and even as the Nachi's commander ordered star-shells to be fired, her second half-salvo arrived, straddling the cruiser. The third salvo from Warspite landed a hit from a 15" shell on the Nachi. The heavy shell was barely slowed by the cruisers armour, smashing through it to wreck her forward engine room. More were to follow, as the Warspite showed just why she was considered one of the best gun ships in the Royal Navy. In less than 15 minutes Nachi was a helpless burning wreck, already sinking into the Java Sea.
Meanwhile the allied cruisers had been exchanging fire with the Haguro and the Naka, both of which were already damaged.. With only star-shell to help either side, fire was inaccurate although Houston took one 8" hit, which temporarily knocked out her A turret. However neither Japanese cruiser was able to retire, and once the Nachi was helpless, Warspite turned both her main and secondary batteries on them. Neither cruiser lasted long.
As a result of the earlier torpedo actions, the only Japanese ship left with torpedoes was one of the destroyers. She had 3 left, as a result of a failure which had stopped them being launched earlier. As the battleship and cruisers were ignoring the destroyers (they were incapable of doing much damage without torpedoes), she managed to get into position behind the burning Nachi and attempted to launch all three at the Warspite. One torpedo failed to launch again, but the other two were successful. The Warspite was busy engaging the cruisers, and did not see the approach. One of the heavy torpedoes missed her, combing the water ahead of the ship, but the other hit her alongside the bridge. And failed to explode.
With his cruiser force destroyed, the remaining destroyers were ordered to withdraw while the cruisers tried to buy them time - even so, the Warspite, firing under radar control, sunk one of them as they made their escape.
Somerville's carrier force had been preparing to launch a new strike at the remaining Japanese light carrier. Just before midnight, the British fleet was sighted at long range by one of the Japanese patrol submarines. Although she was too far away to attempt an attack, she radioed a sighting report of 'two large carriers steaming east'. As a result of this, the Taiyo was ordered to turn back and head north - one light carrier, some planes already destroyed, was no match for two fleet carriers, and the reports from the landing site were already indicating there was no invasion fleet left to support.
March 24th
The Japanese begin an intense air and artillery bombardment of Bataan. Luzon-based Japanese Army and Navy aircraft begin a heavy bombardment of Corregidor, and night air attacks are conducted for the first time.
On Java, the Dutch forces, supported by Stuart tanks and with an Australian brigade in reserve behind them, attacked the Japanese landings. The Japanese fought fiercely but with little hope - they were outnumbered 4:1 and had little heavy equipment or supplies. The situation for them worsened that morning as the Warspite sailed close to the landing areas and started to drop salvoes of 15" shells on their positions. The shock caused by these was so great that many of the infantrymen under bombardment were shocked enough to surrender. The rest of the landing force fought almost to the last man, charging with bayonet and sword when they ran out of ammunition - a foolhardy waste, as the Dutch armour dealt with them easily. It did take two days to clear the landings, but after the morning of the 24th the final result was never in doubt.
While the landings were being destroyed, the Royal Navy was trying to save its damaged ships. The Exeter had been badly hit by two torpedoes, and even with HMS Dragon aiding her to pump water, she was slowly sinking even as she headed for Java. Fortunately the weather was calm, but she finally limped into Surabaya with her rear deck awash. Sadly although she had managed to make land, the damage to the small cruiser was so severe that she was declared a total constructive loss. She was however kept manned for some time, in case her 8" guns would be needed in defence or to support the army, but this proved unnecessary.
In Malaya the Japanese advance was still moving south, although slowing fast. Alexander and Blamey were happy with this - the further the Japanese pushed their head into the noose being created for them, the more of them they could destroy. By now virtually the entire Imperial Guards division was through the Australian lines, and an Indian division as well as the 1st Armoured, heavily supported by artillery, was waiting to engage them. Blamey estimated he would close the trap the following day, and hoped that as well as destroying a considerable part of the Japanese force facing him, would be in position to drive through the opening and take at least part of the Japanese lines from the rear.
Meanwhile the allied cruisers had been exchanging fire with the Haguro and the Naka, both of which were already damaged.. With only star-shell to help either side, fire was inaccurate although Houston took one 8" hit, which temporarily knocked out her A turret. However neither Japanese cruiser was able to retire, and once the Nachi was helpless, Warspite turned both her main and secondary batteries on them. Neither cruiser lasted long.
As a result of the earlier torpedo actions, the only Japanese ship left with torpedoes was one of the destroyers. She had 3 left, as a result of a failure which had stopped them being launched earlier. As the battleship and cruisers were ignoring the destroyers (they were incapable of doing much damage without torpedoes), she managed to get into position behind the burning Nachi and attempted to launch all three at the Warspite. One torpedo failed to launch again, but the other two were successful. The Warspite was busy engaging the cruisers, and did not see the approach. One of the heavy torpedoes missed her, combing the water ahead of the ship, but the other hit her alongside the bridge. And failed to explode.
With his cruiser force destroyed, the remaining destroyers were ordered to withdraw while the cruisers tried to buy them time - even so, the Warspite, firing under radar control, sunk one of them as they made their escape.
Somerville's carrier force had been preparing to launch a new strike at the remaining Japanese light carrier. Just before midnight, the British fleet was sighted at long range by one of the Japanese patrol submarines. Although she was too far away to attempt an attack, she radioed a sighting report of 'two large carriers steaming east'. As a result of this, the Taiyo was ordered to turn back and head north - one light carrier, some planes already destroyed, was no match for two fleet carriers, and the reports from the landing site were already indicating there was no invasion fleet left to support.
March 24th
The Japanese begin an intense air and artillery bombardment of Bataan. Luzon-based Japanese Army and Navy aircraft begin a heavy bombardment of Corregidor, and night air attacks are conducted for the first time.
On Java, the Dutch forces, supported by Stuart tanks and with an Australian brigade in reserve behind them, attacked the Japanese landings. The Japanese fought fiercely but with little hope - they were outnumbered 4:1 and had little heavy equipment or supplies. The situation for them worsened that morning as the Warspite sailed close to the landing areas and started to drop salvoes of 15" shells on their positions. The shock caused by these was so great that many of the infantrymen under bombardment were shocked enough to surrender. The rest of the landing force fought almost to the last man, charging with bayonet and sword when they ran out of ammunition - a foolhardy waste, as the Dutch armour dealt with them easily. It did take two days to clear the landings, but after the morning of the 24th the final result was never in doubt.
While the landings were being destroyed, the Royal Navy was trying to save its damaged ships. The Exeter had been badly hit by two torpedoes, and even with HMS Dragon aiding her to pump water, she was slowly sinking even as she headed for Java. Fortunately the weather was calm, but she finally limped into Surabaya with her rear deck awash. Sadly although she had managed to make land, the damage to the small cruiser was so severe that she was declared a total constructive loss. She was however kept manned for some time, in case her 8" guns would be needed in defence or to support the army, but this proved unnecessary.
In Malaya the Japanese advance was still moving south, although slowing fast. Alexander and Blamey were happy with this - the further the Japanese pushed their head into the noose being created for them, the more of them they could destroy. By now virtually the entire Imperial Guards division was through the Australian lines, and an Indian division as well as the 1st Armoured, heavily supported by artillery, was waiting to engage them. Blamey estimated he would close the trap the following day, and hoped that as well as destroying a considerable part of the Japanese force facing him, would be in position to drive through the opening and take at least part of the Japanese lines from the rear.