HMS Encounter

16 Images

HMS Encounter (H10) was an E class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was launched by Hawthorn Leslie in 1934.

In the Second Battle of the Java Sea (1942), HMS Encounter and USS Pope were directed to escort HMS Exeter away from the action. On the evening of 28 February 1942 the heavy cruiser and two destroyers left Soerabaja and proceeded north. Japanese surface and air forces launched an attack the next morning, midway between Java and Borneo. The three Allied ships fought four Japanese heavy cruisers and four destroyers throughout a fierce three-hour action. Shortly before noon 1 March 1942, the two British ships were destroyed by gunfire, and an hour later USS Pope was attacked and sunk by 12 dive-bombers after sustaining many direct hits.

Length: 329 ft. 100 m. Gross Tonnage: 1,430 tons. Depth: 60 m.

HMS Exeter

27 Images

Semper fidelis : 'Ever Faithful'

HMS Exeter (68) was a York class heavy cruiser of the Royal Navy that served in World War II. She was laid down on 1 August 1928 at the Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, Devon. She was launched on 18 July 1929 and completed on 27 July 1931.

On 27 February 1942, Exeter was damaged in the Battle of the Java Sea when she received an 8-inch shell hit to a boiler room and was subsequently ordered to Surabaya for repairs. Two days later, when she attempted to reach the Sunda Strait, she was intercepted by the Japanese heavy cruisers Nachi, Haguro, Myoko and Ashigara and the destroyers Akebono, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Yamakaze and Kawakaze on the morning of 1 March 1942. The Second Battle of the Java Sea ensued, now more appropriately called The Battle off Bawean Island, and Exeter was soon badly damaged by gunfire, one hit causing the loss of all power to the ship. Scuttling charges were set and she soon began sinking, initially listing to port only to be hit to starboard by a torpedo from the destroyer Inazuma which sat her back upright and rolled her to starboard before she finally sank about noon.

Length: 575 ft. 175 m. Gross Tonnage: 10,410 tons. Depth: 60 m.

HNLMS De Ruyter

28 Images

HNLMS De Ruyter was a light cruiser of the Royal Netherlands Navy, the lead ship of her class. She was originally designed as a 5000-ton ship with a lighter armament due to financial problems and the pacifist movement. Later in the design stage an extra gun turret was added and the armour was improved. She was the seventh ship of the Dutch Navy to be named after Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter. De Ruyter was laid down on 16 September 1933 at the Wilton Fijenoord dockyard in Schiedam and commissioned on 3 October 1936 by Captain A. C. van der Sande Lacoste.

In the Battle of the Java Sea on 27 February 1942, De Ruyter was the flagship of the Dutch rear-admiral Karel Doorman. Off the north coast of Java the ABDA fleet was surprised at night by a Japanese squadron consisting of the heavy cruisers Nachi and Haguro supported by 14 destroyers. De Ruyter was supposedly hit by a single Japanese Long Lance torpedo at about 23:30 and sank at 02:30 the next day with the loss of 345 men, including Admiral Doorman and Captain Lacomblé.

Length: 561 ft. 171 m. Gross Tonnage: 6,545 tons. Depth: 68 m.

Nankai

8 Images

Nankai was a small Japanese miner layer, now resting in 70m and covered from stem to stern in nets.

Length: 150 ft. 45 m. Depth: 70 m.

Whale Shark

33 Images

It's not all rust rust rust with us... well mostly, but when a playful young Whale Shark decides to hang around the boat all day and play like a lost puppy dog, even the most hardened wreck fanatic can't resist jumping in to swim with the Whale Shark.

I have registered this encounter of a previously unidentified whale shark at the excellent ECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-identification Library website. Apparently it is very rare to spot such a small juvenile! This wee ones indentification number is now registered as ID-022.

MV Empress

29 Images

MV Empress.. belt n braces liveaboard with exceptional food... what more do you need for a successful dive trip!