In late February 1942, Japanese amphibious forces were preparing to invade Java, in the Dutch East Indies.

On 27 February, the main American-British-Dutch-Australian Command (ABDACOM) naval force, under Admiral Karel Doorman–a Dutch officer–steamed northeast from Surabaya to intercept an Imperial Japanese navy invasion fleet.

Houston and Perth both retreated to Tanjung Priok, Java, the main port of Batavia, Dutch East Indies, where they arrived at 13:30 on 28 February.

In the early evening on 28 February, Houston, Perth and the Dutch destroyer HNLMS Evertsen received orders to depart Tanjung Priok and head through Sunda Strait to Tjilatjap, on the south coast of Java.

Light cruiser Natori (with Admiral Hara aboard), with the destroyers Harukaze, Hatakaze, Asakaze, Fubuki, Hatsuyuki, Shirayuki, Shirakumo, and Murakumo were closest to the convoy.

Slightly further north, though not involved in the action, was the aircraft carrier Ryūjō, with the heavy cruisers Suzuya and Kumano (with Admiral Kurita aboard), along with the seaplane tender Chiyoda, and the destroyers Isonami and Uranami.

At 23:06, when they were about halfway across the mouth of Bantam Bay, Perth sighted a ship about 5 mi (4.3 nmi; 8.0 km) ahead, near Saint Nicolaas Point.

It was thought at first that the ship was an Australian corvette, but when challenged, she made an unintelligible reply, with a lamp which was the wrong color, fired her nine Long Lance (Type 93) torpedoes from about 3,000 yards (2,700 m) and then turned away, making smoke.

One of the Japanese transports sunk was Ryujo Maru, carrying Lieutenant General Imamura, who had to jump overboard.

[8] Meanwhile, as Evertsen was trying to catch up with Houston and Perth, her crew spotted the tracers and intense shellfire of the main action.