The Warship That Was a Greater Threat to Its Fleet Than to the Enemy

In the stillness of the Sunda Strait on February 28, 1942, the Japanese cruiser Mogami stood guard over a fleet of fifty transports at Bantam Bay, where a deceptive calm hung over the waters.

Suddenly, USS Houston and HMAS Perth, navigating through the darkness, unknowingly veered towards the Japanese fleet. Their unexpected arrival shattered the calm as they stumbled upon the transports. The Allied ships quickly unleashed a fierce onslaught, lighting up the night with the thunder of artillery.

The Japanese transports wailed the alarm, summoning reinforcements. Mogami and her sister ship, Mikuma, hurtled into the heart of the maelstrom, accompanied by a fleet of warships.

Mogami launched a deadly salvo of six torpedoes and scored five hits, each taking a ship to depths. But, not all of them bore Allied colors.

General Hitoshi Imamura had been on board the transport Ryujo Maru when it was hit and had spent 20 minutes in the water waiting to be rescued. As Commander Shukichi Toshikawa from Mogami approached Imamura's chief of staff to explain and make amends for the friendly fire incident, the Aide’s response was: (QUOTE) "Don't tell General Imamura. He thinks the American cruiser Houston did it. Let her have the credit."

Mogami had survived the night, but its luck would only get worse…

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