The Battle of Makassar Strait was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. A fleet of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, under the command of Admiral Karel Doorman, was on its way to intercept a Japanese invasion convoy when it was attacked by 37 Japanese dive-bombers and forced to retreat.

The ADBA force consisted of the cruisers HNLMS De Ruyter (flagship), HNLMS Tromp, USS Houston, and USS Marblehead escorted by the Dutch destroyers Bankert , Piet Hein , Van Ghent , and the United States destroyers Barker, Bulmer, Edwards , and Stewart.

In early February 1942 these ships were patrolling the Makassar Strait between Borneo and Celebes. An attempt to intercept a Japanese convoy at Kendari on 2 February failed as the convoy had departed. On 4 February 1942 they set out again from Bunda Roads in search of a large Japanese invasion force reported to be passing through the straits — three cruisers and 18 destroyers escorting invasion transports and other ships, commanded by Rear Admiral Takeo Takagi .

At 09:49, Japanese bombers were sighted to the east by sailors on the ABDA ships. Marblehead was hit by two bombs and damaged by a near miss close to the port bow, killing 15 and wounding 84. Houston was also badly damaged and De Ruyter slightly damaged.

Doorman was forced to retire to Tjilatjap to protect the damaged cruisers and the Japanese force captured Balikpapan.

See also

• The Naval Battle of Balikpapan , 24 January 1942, is sometimes referred to as the "battle of Makassar Strait", especially in United States Navy sources.