Great torpedo salvo

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#1

While [HMAS]Perth was engaged by the destroyers, Mogami fired six long lances at [USS]Houston at 2327. This was one of the most effective torpedo salvos of the entire war. They sped pass their intended target at 48 knots directly into Bantum Bay. At 2335 five explosions erupted almost simultaneously. The army transports Sakura Maru (7,149 tons gross), Horai Maru (9,162 tons) Tatsuno Maru (6,960 tons) and the special vessel Ryujo (Shinshu) Maru (8,160) tons all sank in shallow water, although the later two were subsequent raised. Mogami also sank minesweeper W2 (807 tons full load displacement) in this barrage, although her loss is also credited to action by Houston and a mine.

…

The Ryujo Maru was the flag of the commander in chief of the 16th Army, General Imamura. He was directing the landing of the second wave when the explosion from the torpedo hit threw him into the water. He was three hours struggling ashore, but when his aide finally found him sitting on a pile of bamboo, face blacked with oil, he congratulated the general on his successful landing.
http://www.microworks.net/PACIFIC/battles/sunda_strait.htm

I hope there was an after action conference between General Imamura and the IJN. :wink:

#2

Scored a goal in their own net. Or goals actually…

#3

Hello,

According to Japanese accounts (in “Senshi Sosho”) the Imperial Navy told LT GEN Imamura, Hitoshi that his vessels were damaged by enemy torpedo boats which followed the two Allied cruisers into the landing anchorage. The Navy felt that there was no need to tell the Army the true facts after the Army had accepted this initial explanation/apology.

The Japanese recovered the tail section of a Type 93 (“Long Lance”) torpedo from the landing area, and deduced these weapons had been responsible for the devastation to their transports, as well as the sinking of the minesweeper, W-2.

#4

Thanks for that detailed info.

I don’t think there were any ABDA patrol boats in the area, although Capt. Rooks on the Houston had been warned there might be Dutch ones and initially mistook the IJN destroyer Fubuki for one when it was trailing him, before he engaged it and started the battle.

Fubuki was blamed by some for the salvo, although Mogami seems to be regarded as the real culprit.

#5

This battle is detailed in several English language sources. The IJN also assumed these were Allied torpedos, until they interogated the survivng cews of the Houston and Perth. Neither ship carried torpedos or launch equipment. One account claims the Japanse launched eighty torpedos, with maybe ten hitting anything.

The battle was at night, and for most of it the Perth and Houston were surrounded. It is possible some of the Japanese cannon fire hit their own warships as well.

#6

That would be consistent with Japanese torpedo tactics for the big swarm of torpedoes from the assembled ships.

#7

Hello,

The Japanese post-battle accounts were quite explicit in their concern for the dangers of firing multiple torpedo salvoes in crowded waters. Their commanding officers noted that they felt very much afraid of their own weapons in such an engagement. As mentioned earlier, they also understood the pressing need for good IFF gear.

And actually HMAS PERTH (originally HMS AMPHION) as built was armed with eight (8) 21" torpedoes, but I don’t recall offhand if she fired any that last night. I doubt it.

In reconstructing this very confused melee, the Japanese, based upon the time, firing angles, distances involved, and the recovered tail-section, were able to determine that their own Type 93 torpedoes were in fact the culprits. SHINSHU MARU (AKA Ryujo Maru), LT GEN Imamura’s command vessel, capsized in shallow water; she was salvaged. HORAI MARU settled upright, but with pretty severe damage amidships. The minesweeper W.2 was split in half and lost…

Nevertheless, the Japanese surface ships definitely received shellfire from the two Allied cruisers, and a number of IJN vessels were damaged, and suffered casualties, although none were extensive. USS HOUSTON (CA-30) expended something on the order of 160-170 8" shells and 750 5" projectiles + about 50 starshells…so there was a lot of shooting going on…

If PERTH took four (4) torps, and HOUSTON took four (4), and not counting the five (5) that struck their own vessels, out of 87 fired in all…that’s only 9% which struck the enemy. Not a great percentage, but better than the 3 out of 153 (1.96%) in the Battle of the Java Sea. However, the ranges were much closer at Sunda Strait.

#8

Some claim the Perth had its torpedo launchers removed during refit a few years earlier. If it had launchers it is unfortunate it did not send any off.