Raids into the Indian Ocean | Nihon Kaigun
Raids into the Indian Ocean
(March 31 - April 9, 1942)

Having effectively put an end to Allied naval strength in the South Pacific with the annihilation of the ABDA forces around Java, Kido Butai (the Japanese carrier striking force) raided westward into the Indian Ocean so as to destroy the remnants of British naval power there. By attacking the main British fleet bases at Colombo and Trincomalee on Ceylon and driving the Royal Navy from the area, the westward flank of the Japanese defensive perimeter would be secure, and operations in Burma could continue unmolested. Starting on March 31, 1942, five Japanes carriers (Kaga had returned to Japan for engine work on March 2) began shooting up practically everything that moved in the Bay of Bengal. On April 5th, Nagumo hit Colombo and sank a number of ships. That afternoon the Japanese also caught two British heavy cruisers offshore and quickly sank them. On April 9th they attacked Trincomalee, and in the process discovered and sank the British light carrier Hermes, a destroyer, and some auxiliaries. Nagumo turned for home upon the conclusion of this raid.

During this entire episode, the bulk of the British Eastern Fleet had either kept out of the way, or had tried rather feebly to track and attack Kido Butai. Given that the British fast striking force had only two full-sized carriers (Indomitable and Formidable) and a single fast battleship (Warspite) to Japan's five and four, respectively, it is probably just as well that they never made contact. All other factors being equal, their only likely fate would have been to be whomped on.

Raids into the Indian OceanJapanAllied
Starting Forces x6 (later 5)
x4
x2
x1
x11
x350
 Force A (Fast)
x2
x1
x2
x2
x6

Force B (Slow)
x1
x4
x3
x8

Losses roughly two dozen planes shot down, total
 x1 sunk (Hermes)
x2 sunk (Cornwall, Dorsetshire)
x2 sunk (Tenedos, Vampire)

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WW2DB article on Raids into the Indian Ocean


Aircraft carrier Akagi shortly after leaving Port Stirling, Celebes for the Indian Ocean, 26 Mar 1942; note B5N torpedo bombers on flight deckMap showing Nagumo’s and Ozawa’s movements during the Indian Ocean Raids of Apr 1942.British cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall burning during the Indian Ocean Raid, 5 Apr 1942; photo taken from a Japanese aircraftD3A dive bomber taking off from carrier Akagi, Indian Ocean, 5 Apr 1942; the single vertical red stripe toward the rear end of fuselage identified this aircraft as from AkagiHMS Hermes sinking off Batticaloa, Ceylon, 9 Apr 1942; photograph taken from a Japanese aircraft
Aircraft carrier Akagi shortly after leaving Port Stirling, Celebes for the Indian Ocean, 26 Mar 1942; note B5N torpedo bombers on flight deckMap showing Nagumo’s and Ozawa’s movements during the Indian Ocean Raids of Apr 1942.British cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall burning during the Indian Ocean Raid, 5 Apr 1942; photo taken from a Japanese aircraftD3A dive bomber taking off from carrier Akagi, Indian Ocean, 5 Apr 1942; the single vertical red stripe toward the rear end of fuselage identified this aircraft as from AkagiHMS Hermes sinking off Batticaloa, Ceylon, 9 Apr 1942; photograph taken from a Japanese aircraft
HMS Hermes sinking off Ceylon, 9 Apr 1942; photo taken from a Japanese aircraftMap showing Japanese offensives in Malaya, Burma, and the Indian Ocean, Jan-May 1942
HMS Hermes sinking off Ceylon, 9 Apr 1942; photo taken from a Japanese aircraftMap showing Japanese offensives in Malaya, Burma, and the Indian Ocean, Jan-May 1942

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