ABDA Striking Force 1942

ABDA Striking Force 1942 by Angus Konstam takes a deep dive into the pioneering naval fleet formed by the Allies during the early stages of World War II. As Japan attacked in 1942, the reeling Allies formed a joint command, the first of the war, which fought until their defeat at the Battle of the Java Sea. Fully illustrated, this book explores the evolution and challenges faced by this unprecedented fleet.

The Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor and the near-simultaneous invasions of the Philippines and Malaya were soon followed by the invasion of the oil-rich Dutch East Indies. In mid-January, the American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Command was created to unify the available forces, with its naval component becoming the most integrated joint Allied fleet of World War II.

In this insightful study, naval historian Angus Konstam examines this almost-forgotten formation, which was tasked with defending the Malay Barrier and preventing Japanese access to the Indian Ocean and Australian waters. Following its fleetingly successful debut at the Battle of Balikpapan in January 1942, ABDACOM's forces faced incessant challenges, participating in a series of naval clashes amid the straits and islands of the southern Java Sea. Outnumbered and lacking adequate air cover, the task was hopeless, culminating in the fleet’s destruction at the battles of Java Sea and the Sunda Strait.

Filled with illustrations and photographs, ABDA Striking Force 1942 traces the rise and fall of ABDACOM’s naval squadron – a unique combination of cruisers and destroyers from four Allied navies – and examines their performance against the formidable Imperial Japanese Navy.