The Battle of the Java Sea in World War II

The Battle of the Java Sea in World War II The Battle of the Java Sea occurred on February 27, 1942, and was an early naval engagement of World War II (1939-1945) in the Pacific. With the beginning of fighting in the Dutch East Indies, Allied forces attempted to unite to slow the Japanese advance south towards Australia. This saw a combined American, British, Dutch, and Australian fleet formed to protect Java. In late February, this fleets Eastern Strike Force, led by Rear Admiral Karel Doorman, engaged the approaching Japanese in the Java Sea. In the resulting engagement, Doorman doggedly attacked the Japanese but proved unable to halt their advance. The battle concluded with the loss of the light cruisers HNLMS De Ruyter and Java as well as Doormans death. In the wake of the fighting, the remaining Allied ships fled though most were destroyed in separate actions a short time later. Background In early 1942, with the Japanese rapidly advancing south through the Dutch East Indies, the Allies attempted to mount a defense of Java in an effort to hold the Malay Barrier. Concentrating under the unified command known as American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Command, Allied naval units were divided between bases at Tandjong Priok (Batavia) in the west and Surabaya in the east. Overseen by Dutch Vice Admiral Conrad Helfrich, ABDA forces were badly outnumbered and in poor condition for the approaching fight. To take the island, the Japanese formed two major invasion fleets. Japanese Attacks Along the Malay Barrier. US Army Center for Military History Japanese Sighted Sailing from Jolo in the Philippines, the Japanese Eastern Invasion Fleet was spotted by ABDA aircraft on February 25. This led Helfrich to reinforce Rear Admiral Karel Doormans Eastern Strike Force at Surabaya the next day with several ships from the Royal Navy. Upon their arrival, Doorman held a meeting with his captains to discuss the upcoming campaign. Departing that evening, Doormans force consisted of two heavy cruisers (USS Houston HMS Exeter), three light cruisers (HNLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java, HMAS Perth), as well as three British, two Dutch, and four American (Destroyer Division 58) destroyers. Sweeping the north coast of Java and Madura, Doormans ships failed to locate the Japanese and turned for Surabaya. A short distance to the north, the Japanese invasion force, protected by two heavy cruisers (Nachi Haguro), two light cruisers (Naka Jintsu), and fourteen destroyers, under Rear Admiral Takeo Takagi, slowly moved towards Surabaya. At 1:57 PM on February 27, a Dutch scout plane located the Japanese approximately 50 miles north of the port. Receiving this report, the Dutch admiral, whose ships were beginning to enter the harbor, reversed course to seek battle. ABDA Commander Rear Admiral Karel Doorman2 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, nine destroyers Japanese Commanders Rear Admiral  Takeo TakagiRear Admiral Shoji Nishimura2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, fourteen destroyers The Battle Begins Sailing north, Doormans exhausted crews prepared to meet the Japanese. Flying his flag from De Ruyter, Doorman deployed his ships in three columns with his destroyers flanking the cruisers. At 3:30 PM, a Japanese air raid forced the ABDA fleet to disperse. Around 4:00 PM, Jintsu spotted the re-formed ABDA ships to the south. Turning with four destroyers to engage, Jintsus column opened the battle at 4:16 PM as the Japanese heavy cruisers and additional destroyers came up in support. As both sides exchanged fire, Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimuras Destroyer Division 4 closed and launched a torpedo attack. Exeter Disabled Around 5:00 PM, Allied aircraft struck the Japanese transports but scored no hits. At the same time, Takagi, feeling the battle was drifting too close to the transports, ordered his ships to close with the enemy. Doorman issued a similar order and the range between the fleets narrowed. As the fighting intensified, Nachi struck Exeter with an 8 shell that disabled most of the ships boilers and created confusion in the ABDA line. Badly damaged, Doorman ordered Exeter to return to Surabaya with the destroyer HNLMS Witte de With as an escort. The Sides Close Shortly thereafter, the destroyer HNLMS Kortenaer was sunk by a Japanese Type 93 Long Lance torpedo. His fleet in disarray, Doorman broke off the battle to reorganize. Takagi, believing the battle was won, ordered his transports to turn south towards Surabaya. Around 5:45 PM, the action was renewed as Doormans fleet turned back towards the Japanese. Finding that Takagi was crossing his T, Doorman ordered his destroyers forward to attack the approaching Japanese light cruisers and destroyers. In the resulting action, the destroyer Asagumo was crippled and HMS Electra sunk. Repeated Attacks At 5:50, Doorman swung his column around to a southeast heading and ordered the American destroyers to cover his withdrawal. In response to this attack and concerns about mines, Takagi turned his force north shortly before sunset. Unwilling to give in, Doorman steamed away into the darkness before planning another strike on the Japanese. Turning northeast then northwest, Doorman hoped to swing around Takagis ships to reach the transports. Anticipating this, and confirmed by sightings from spotter planes, the Japanese were in position to meet the ABDA ships when they reappeared at 7:20 PM. After a brief exchange of fire and torpedoes, the two fleets separated again, with Doorman taking his ships inshore along the Java coast in another attempt to circle around the Japanese. At approximately 9:00 PM, the four American destroyers, out of torpedoes and low on fuel, detached and returned to Surabaya. Over the next hour, Doorman lost his last two destroyers when HMS Jupiter was sunk by a Dutch mine and HMS Encounter was detached to pick up survivors from Kortenaer. A Final Clash Sailing on with his four remaining cruisers, Doorman moved north and was spotted by lookouts aboard Nachi at 11:02 PM. As the ships began to exchange fire, Nachi and Haguro fired spreads of torpedoes. One from Haguro fatally struck De Ruyter at 11:32 PM exploding one of its magazines and killing Doorman. Java was hit by one of Nachis torpedoes two minutes later and sank. Obeying Doormans final orders, Houston and Perth fled the scene without stopping to pick up survivors. Aftermath The Battle of the Java Sea was a resounding victory for the Japanese and effectively ended meaningful naval resistance by ABDA forces. On February 28, Takagis invasion force began landing troops forty miles to the west of Surabaya at Kragan. In the fighting, Doorman lost two light cruisers and three destroyers, as well as one heavy cruiser badly damaged and around 2,300 killed. Japanese losses numbered one destroyer badly damaged and another with moderate damage. HMS Exeter sinks during the Second Battle of the Java Sea, March 1, 1942. US Naval History Heritage Command Though soundly defeated, that the Battle of the Java Sea lasted seven hours is a testament to Doormans determination to defend the island at all costs. Many of the remaining units of his fleet were subsequently destroyed at the Battle of the Sunda Strait (February 28/March 1) and the Second Battle of the Java Sea (March 1). Many of the wrecks of those ships lost at the Battle of the Java Sea and the subsequent actions have been destroyed by illegal salvage operations.

Using evidence from at least 3 domains critically evaluate the extent Essay

Using evidence from at least 3 domains critically evaluate the extent to which evolutionary psychology provides an adequate explanation of human behaviour - Essay Example 250). While other theories on human behaviour can explain some types of behaviours better than evolutionary psychology, this branch of study has credibility through understanding that the adaptive traits that are exhibited in human beings are part of a process that can explain all aspects of behaviour from an historic, and prehistoric perspective of viewing the natural adaptive development of the human species. In order to examine the effectiveness in evolutionary psychology in explaining human behaviour, universal conditions can be examined for the common responses that are seen within the species. Using evolutionary psychology as a way of understanding attraction behaviours, for instance, reveals that men and women find each other attractive based on attributes that promote the survival of the species. Women will find men with resources more attractive, while men will find physical attraction, which is associated with good health and child bearing potential, a more important attribute in potential mates (Keil & Wilson, 2001, p. 751). Part of understanding evolutionary psychology requires an understanding that the behaviours that are present within the human species are directed towards specific adaptive purposes. Vuchinich and Heather (2003) argue that addiction behaviours are the result of an evolved psychological mechanism that has been shifted in the process of drug dependence (p. 251 ). This type of exaptation allows the researcher to examine the underlying cause of the responses that an addict will have to addiction seeking stimuli. Finally, looking at the example of aggression allows for the exploration of a set of behaviours that are typically tied to responses that are more blatantly tied to evoked responses. The frustration-aggression hypothesis postulated by Dollard suggests that when faced with a frustrating stimuli that would instigate the behaviour of aggression, a

United States should not remove all penalties on drugs Essay

United States should not remove all penalties on drugs - Essay Example More than 30% of the states have legalized the use of these kinds of drugs. Thus there arises a conflict of interest between the Federal Government and the central government. However, the liberalization and decriminalization of drugs is not a very acceptable phenomenon from a societal point of view. This essay makes an attempt to justify the opinion that US should not remove all penalties on drugs. Discussion The US government had planned to remove or reduce the drug penalties on several grounds like lack of any violent activities or the use of weapons. If the drug penalty on those people are removed who have not indulged in violence, the others may be instigated to get involved in such activities knowing that they would be freed too. This would have a harmful effect on the society. The drug peddlers who trade drugs to anyone other than the minor had also been given relaxation. Circulation of illicit drugs even to the adults is not acceptable (Savage 1). A lot of money of the govern ment that comes in form of taxes is spent in the prison expenses of the people convicted of the crime. Most of the people had taken advantage of this and had moved to jail so that their basic needs are taken care of. However, to curb such increasing expenses the persons who are accused of using and distributing drugs cannot be freed because it will cause harm to the society. The drug peddlers who trade drugs to anyone other than the minor had also been given relaxation. Circulation of illicit drugs even to the adults is not acceptable (Savage 1). A lot of money of the government that comes in form of taxes is spent in the prison expenses of the people convicted of the crime. Most of the people had taken advantage of this and had moved to jail so that their basic needs are taken care of. However, to curb such increasing expenses the persons who are accused of using and distributing drugs cannot be freed because it will cause harm to the society. These drug addicted people would come out and spread the curse among more people and it would have detrimental effects on the society. Thus by maintaining the penalty the government of US would be able to deliver better safety standards for the public. If penalties are removed, the use of drugs would lead to several organized crimes. The drugs are mostly expensive and thus the sale of drugs provides a lot of money to the drug peddlers. These people with their money can influence many powerful entities and continue with their illegal business. It would also lead to a waste of money by the youngsters especially who can use that money for educational or other productive uses. The consumption of drugs would also increase because the people who did not indulge in drugs in fear of legal bindings would now start using drugs. Most important point in this regard is the fact that US government under the leadership of Ronald Reagan and more recently Bill Clinton had passed several legislations to curb the use of drugs. These measures have actually helped the government control the use of drugs. Records have proved that the crime rates had decreased in the period when these rules were there. Thus in order to ensure the safety of the citizens and the benefit of the society as a whole, the US should not remove the penalty on drugs (Levine 1). Conclusion Thus it is clear that the binding that is existent in the US regarding the consumption and the use of laws should remain stringent and the penalties that are existent should not be relaxed. The relaxation of the penalties woul d send a wrong signal to the society and the illicit consumption would increase. The stringent regulations would curb the crime rate of the society that take place due to drug abuse. The waste of money and other forms of resources would be prevented and it could be utilized for the social welfare. The regulation of the use of drugs would prevent the economic power from concentrating into the hands of the influential drug dealers. Though the people who indulge in the business and use of

Industrial psych Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Industrial psych - Essay Example When the personality of each employee is studied, the degree of self-assurance of him or her will also be known. The interaction with worker also shows this level. Consistency theory by Korman states that self-confidence and presentation have a positive relationship: the more self-confident an employee is, the better results he shows. The level of self-assurance can be increased by means of special training that will help workers realize their potential. Moreover, positive experience also contributes to better self-esteem. During such training, a worker is offered an easy assignment, which is very easy to succeed in, and after the completion, his self-esteem will improve. The level of self-confidence also depends on the behavior of a supervisor; thus it is essential to provide supervisors with special training. The next essential thing Susan Kwan should pay attention to is intrinsic motivation. Employees are different in the way they can be intrinsically motivated. Some of the employees like the process of performing the task, while some employees are more oriented towards the successful result of a task. Some employees also can be motivated by the desire to avoid negative outcomes, because they are afraid to be fired. Different tests can be used to determine if employees are intrinsic or extrinsic. Finally, the desire to get better results, need in communication and authority should be studied to define how people differ in these needs. The job position of every employee should be determined considering these differences. It is necessary Susan Kwan should determine the workers’ level of satisfaction, which influences the quality of their performance. The goals that are set out should be well defined and understood, attainable within the set deadline, take into account the level of difficulty, the employees’ role and their level of preparation. Therefore, it is evident that a goal partly involves employees. Special attention

The Field of Loss Prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Field of Loss Prevention - Essay Example As a consequence my early life experiences were molded by a blend of a â€Å"doing right† and a â€Å"doing well† philosophy. I thus grew to understand to importance of doing the right thing in life and doing it well. From my father’s perspective, what was right was related in part to what was right legally, but also what was right from a moral standpoint. One factor that influenced me towards law was the sense of strength and duty that I learnt from my father. As a consequence of his job, there was always the chance that one day he wouldn’t come home, and I deeply admired the strength and courage that drove him to take those risks. A particular incident that I remember vividly was the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. Although my father was not involved at all, I remember watching the heroic attempts of the officers of both the New York Fire Department and the New York Police Department and the risks that they took. Many of these lost their lives in the World Trade Centre, and whenever I think of them, I feel a strong sense of duty and purpose and am determined to follow the example that they set and to put my chosen career above my own personal desires. The idea of law and justice was strong in my family, not only was my father a firefighter, with strong opinions about what was right and what was just, but also three of my uncles work with the police, two work in New Jersey, one as a police officer and the other as a County Sheriff’s Officer and the last one is a Police Detective.

Canadas Involvement in Defeating the Apartheid System Essay

Canadas Involvement in Defeating the Apartheid System - Essay Example It became more apparent when the South African government implemented the apartheid system. The series of events demonstrating the evil effects of the brutal policy had caught the attention of powerful and rich countries like United States and Canada. Together with the other concerned states, the Canadian government extended social, political, and economic support to the black people in South Africa. With its heterogeneous population, Canada was considered to have an essential role in thwarting the principles advanced by the apartheid system. The Apartheid System and its Justification The apartheid system refers to â€Å"the separation of races† in almost every aspect of life (Edwards n. pag.). Under this system, there is segregation with regard to the following: (1) education (2) medical care (3) transportation (4) housing (5) employment (6) voting and (7) public accommodation (Edwards). Its main thrust is to prevent the other races from enjoying the areas of life which are only meant for the white race. In the eyes of the minority white government, the implementation of the Apartheid policy is a necessary precondition in attaining a good political structure. The government believes that this objective is only achievable if there will be peace throughout the South African community. For the minority white, a peaceful co-existence will only truly happen if there would be separation of races (Edwards n. pag.). For them, there should be social, political, and economic segregation between the different races in South Africa. It would seem that the ruling whites are irritated and disgusted with the presence of dark-skinned individuals within the South African community. Apparently, the government uses the physical attributes of the blacks as an excuse to its inefficient delivery of essential public services. For the white leaders, good governance would mean racial segregation. In such case, it is their belief that a smooth flow of interaction between the various agencies of the government would only be feasible through the apartheid system. This is buttressed by the fact that the whites are the dominant race in South Africa when the apartheid policy was introduced in 1948 (â€Å"Apartheid Era†). Canadian Diplomacy It is a generally accepted principle in international law that if a certain issue is of national scope, the other nations are not supposed to interfere with the subject state. However, in actuality, there are national issues which need a worldwide intervention; the apartheid in South Africa is a good example. When the apartheid policy of the South African government became a global issue, many states extended their support as in the case of Canada. Just like the other concerned states, the Canadian government also tried diplomacy to defeat the apartheid system. Diplomacy, as an art of dialogue and negotiation, was used by Canada to gain support from the other states and weaken the government of South Africa (â€Å"Diplomacy†). The negotiation effort was personally handled by the country’s Prime Minister, Martin Brian Mulroney. Canada, represented by Mulroney, vigorously advanced the situation in South Africa within the Commonwealth of Nations; in turn, the organization supported Mulroney’s conviction and imposed a new condition for membership -- a state must at all times respect racial equality (â€Å"Canada’s Role†). Nevertheless, with such condition at hand, the South African government still did not dismantle the apartheid. Instead, it left the Commonwealth in 1961 and became a republic (â€Å"United States†

The Field of Loss Prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Field of Loss Prevention - Essay Example As a consequence my early life experiences were molded by a blend of a â€Å"doing right† and a â€Å"doing well† philosophy. I thus grew to understand to importance of doing the right thing in life and doing it well. From my father’s perspective, what was right was related in part to what was right legally, but also what was right from a moral standpoint. One factor that influenced me towards law was the sense of strength and duty that I learnt from my father. As a consequence of his job, there was always the chance that one day he wouldn’t come home, and I deeply admired the strength and courage that drove him to take those risks. A particular incident that I remember vividly was the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. Although my father was not involved at all, I remember watching the heroic attempts of the officers of both the New York Fire Department and the New York Police Department and the risks that they took. Many of these lost their lives in the World Trade Centre, and whenever I think of them, I feel a strong sense of duty and purpose and am determined to follow the example that they set and to put my chosen career above my own personal desires. The idea of law and justice was strong in my family, not only was my father a firefighter, with strong opinions about what was right and what was just, but also three of my uncles work with the police, two work in New Jersey, one as a police officer and the other as a County Sheriff’s Officer and the last one is a Police Detective.