U.S.S. Houston, CA 30
Franklin Roosevelt's Favorite Ship was Sunk at the Sunda Straits
The U.S.S. Houston was launched in 1929, a sleek 10,000 ton Northampton-class heavy cruiser. Although the cruiser went to many ports of call in its career, including Europe and South America, it is most closely associated with Asia. In fact, it was flagship of the Asiatic Fleet on two occasions. Its duties were many and varied. In the 1930s there were goodwill trips to various parts of the world. In May, 1933, Houston made a goodwill visit to Japan—ironic, in view of subsequent events. It was also on hand in San Francisco Bay when the Golden Gate Bridge was opened in 1937.
President Franklin Roosevelt and the Houston
Houston was chosen as a kind of unofficial “presidential cruise ship” whenever it was needed. In 1934, Roosevelt rode from Annapolis, Maryland to Portland, Oregon, by way of the Panama Canal and Honolulu. Other trips were just as far-flung. In 1938, the President took “the boat” as he called it from San Diego to Florida by way of Panama. Because Roosevelt was disabled, parts of the ship were modified for his visits, with ramps and fixtures put in for better mobility.
Roosevelt was a keen fisherman, and he loved to try his luck aboard the ship’s motor launch. Houston crew would also be aboard. Yellowtails, sea bass, groupers, and even small sharks hit the presidential hook. In Richard Hornfischer’s book Ship of Ghosts Roosevelt’s 1938 visit is recalled. “It’s good to be back home, Captain” were the President’s first words.
The Early Months of World War II in Asia
The Asiatic Fleet was the “forgotten” fleet, outnumbered and partly antiquated, but still courageous and determined to fight a holding action against the rampaging Japanese. The Houston joined vessels from America’s British and Dutch allies. There were many problems, because the Americans, British, Australians, and Dutch had never worked with each other, and with the Dutch there was a language problem.
But then Houston joined an Allied force under the command of Rear Admiral Karel W.F.M. Doorman of the Royal Netherlands Navy for a foray against the Japanese. On February 4, 1942, the Houston was attacked by Japanese bombers. Captain Rooks zig zagged to avoid the cascading bombs, maneuvering the 600 foot cruiser “like a motorboat.” But one 500 pound bomb slammed into Houston’s Number 3 (aft) turret. Forty-eight bluejackets were killed, 20 wounded. The ship returned to Java. Admiral William Hart decided to have the Houston stay in Java, and not return to the US for repairs.
The Battle of the Java Sea
The remaining Allied ships were gathered together for a kind of last stand against superior Japanese forces. The result was the Battle of the Java Sea, an Allied debacle. Two Allied cruisers and three destroyers were sent to the bottom. Before going down on his flagship DeRuyter, Admiral Doorman ordered the Houston and the Australian cruiser Perth back to Batavia (Now Jakarta).
Battle of the Sunda Strait, March 1, 1942
Houston and Perth were ordered to in essence “break out” from the confining Java Sea to the expanse of the Indian Ocean. That mean going through the Sunda Strait, the passage between Java and Sumatra. But the two Allied vessels had the bad luck to encounter an entire Japanese invasion fleet on the night of Feb 28-March 1. There were two Japanese cruisers, one light cruiser, and three divisions of destroyers to contend with.
The two ships fought a heroic battle against insurmountable odds. After the gallant Perth was torpedoed and sunk, the Japanese concentrated all their fire on Houston. Houston survivor Howard Brooks recalls the ship’s last moments vividly today. After the order to abandon ship was given, surviving crewmembers hit the water. “Houston was all lit up by Japanese searchlights, “ Brooks recalls, “ so as we floated away from our sinking ship, she was engulfed in flames from the boat deck to the stern, As the fantail slowly disappeared into the brightly lit sea, our “Old Glory” (US flag) still flapped defiantly to the last”
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Of Houston’s roughly 1,100 man compliment, only 368 survived. The survivors would now endure three and a half years of starvation, beatings, and torture at the hands of brutal Japanese captors. Howard Brooks went to the infamous Thailand-Burma Railway, the “Railway of Death” made famous by the movie Bridge on the River Kwai. Most survived the war and came back home.
Today, there’s a monument to the Houston in downtown Houston, Texas.
Sources:
Author interview with Houston survivor Howard Brooks
James D. Hornfischer, Ship of Ghosts Bantam, 2006
uss Houston
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Houston sailor Howard Brooks
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