Battle of the Malacca Strait facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Malacca Strait
Part of the Pacific theater of World War II
Japanese cruiser Haguro.
Date 15–16 May 1945 Location Strait of Malacca Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Manley Laurence Power	Shigeru Fukudome Shintaro Hashimoto  † Kaju Sugiura  †
Strength
5 Destroyers	1 Heavy Cruiser 1 Destroyer
Casualties and losses
1 destroyer damaged, 2 killed	1 cruiser sunk, 1 destroyer damaged, 927 killed

The Battle of the Malacca Strait, also known as the Sinking of the Haguro, was an important naval battle during World War II. It happened in May 1945. This battle was part of a bigger plan by the British to find and sink Japanese ships. The British operation was called Operation Dukedom. It ended with the sinking of the Japanese cruiser Haguro. The Haguro had been helping Japanese troops by delivering supplies in places like the Dutch East Indies and the Bay of Bengal.

What Was the Battle of the Malacca Strait?

The Battle of the Malacca Strait was a sea fight between the British Royal Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy. It took place near the Strait of Malacca, which is a narrow waterway between Malaysia and Indonesia. This battle was one of the last major naval battles of World War II. It showed how strong the British Navy was in the final months of the war.

Why Did This Battle Happen?

By 1945, World War II was nearing its end. The Allies (like Britain and the United States) were pushing back against Japan. The British wanted to stop Japanese ships from moving supplies and troops. They knew the Japanese cruiser Haguro was active in the area. The Haguro was a powerful ship that had been involved in many battles. Stopping it was a key goal for the British.

The Ships Involved

The British force, led by Manley Laurence Power, had five fast warships called Destroyers. These were:

• HMS Saumarez
• HMS Venus
• HMS Vigilant
• HMS Verulam
• HMS Volage

The Japanese force was led by Shigeru Fukudome. It included the heavy cruiser Haguro and a destroyer called Kamikaze. The Haguro was a large warship with many guns. It was much bigger than any of the British destroyers.

HMS Saumarez, one of the British destroyers in the battle.

The Battle Unfolds

The British destroyers found the Japanese ships on the night of May 15, 1945. The battle took place in the dark, which made it very tricky. The British ships used their speed and torpedoes to attack. Torpedoes are underwater missiles that can sink ships.

The British destroyers worked together. They attacked the Haguro from different directions. This made it hard for the Haguro to defend itself. The battle was intense, with gunfire and torpedoes lighting up the night.

The Sinking of the Haguro

After a fierce fight, the British torpedoes hit the Haguro. The large Japanese cruiser was badly damaged. It began to sink. Many Japanese sailors were lost when the ship went down. The Kamikaze destroyer was also damaged but managed to escape.

The sinking of the Haguro was a big victory for the British. It showed the skill of their destroyer crews. It also meant that one less powerful Japanese warship was left to fight.

What Happened After?

The Battle of the Malacca Strait was a clear British victory. The British lost only two sailors and had one destroyer damaged. The Japanese lost 927 sailors, and their main ship, the Haguro, was sunk. The Kamikaze destroyer was damaged.

This battle helped the Allies control the seas around Southeast Asia. It made it harder for Japan to move supplies and troops. It was one of the last naval battles before World War II ended a few months later in August 1945.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del estrecho de Malaca para niños