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commander of the Scouting Force in 1933, Adm. Harris Laning, “war games…since we have had light and heavy cruisers indicate that the offensive value of their torpedoes is practically nil,” Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, 132. Perth’s torpedo salvoes: the ship’s torpedo gunner reported hits on an aircraft carrier or tender, as well as two destroyers, though the claim seems optimistic. Parkin, Out of the Smoke, 253. “For God’s sake shoot that bloody light out!”: McKie, Proud Echo, 43. Torpedo hit on Perth: this fish was reportedly from a spread of six fired by the destroyer Harakaze at 11:56, per Payne, HMAS Perth, 75. “Some vital pulse had stopped”: Parkin, 254. “What do we use after these?”: Ibid., 255. “Christ, that’s torn it” and “Prepare to abandon ship, sir?”: McKie, 43; Parkin, at 254, recalled the conversation a bit differently. “I don’t want the Old Girl to take anyone with her”: Parkin, 257. “Across the sea and under the sky came a great roar. From under X turret…”: Ibid., 260–261. “Light, almost gay, in that mad moment…”: McKie, 52–53. Harper “was suddenly appalled…”: Parkin, 262. Parkin noted that “after the fourth torpedo, the starboard list came off her and she heeled slightly to port”; but W. A. Bee, in All Men Back, wrote that the Perth was “listing heavily to port,” 21; McKie quoted Lyons that it was “over on her port side sliding down by the bows,” Proud Echo, 46. “Pieces could be seen flying off as salvoes exploded…”: Parkin, 261. Lt. Frank Gillan’s escape from Perth: McKie, 55–58. “Her four propellers came clear of the sea…”: Parkin, 263. The Perth suffered 356 KIA, per Bee, All Men Back, 130. “I’m the last man out of that ship alive…”: McKie, 58.

CHAPTER 18 (pp. 128 to 131)

“When Captain Rooks realized she was finished…”: Winslow, The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait, 137. “We couldn’t see…” James Gee, UNT interview, 34. Houston’s gunfire against transports: USS Houston, action report, 6; see also Imamura, quoted in Anthony Reid, The Japanese Experience in Indonesia, 33–34; Morison, History of United States Naval Operations, Vol. 3, 366. “Let the Houston have the credit”: Toland, Rising Sun, Vol. 1, 353 fn. Abandonment of Houston’s Central Station: Houston, action report, 6; Clarence Schilperoort, interview with the author. “You didn’t know where the hell you were…”: David C. Flynn, interview with the author. “I thought I was looking at a moving picture”: Schilperoort, interview with the author.

CHAPTER 19 (pp. 132 to 136)

Damage to Houston generally: USS Houston, Sunda Strait action report, 12. Destruction of Turret Two: USS Houston, action report; Charles D. Smith, “USS Houston (CA-30) and Experiences in Jap Prison Camp,” 10; H. S. Hamlin, “Statement,” 6. “Everything lit up…” and “I’m telling you what I did…”: James Huffman, interview with the author, 5. Casualties in Turret Two: Smith, 11. “We knew the turret was on fire…”: William J. Stewart, UNT interview, 19. “It was just like coming out of a blow torch…”: Ibid., 20–21. In the Mikuma, sailors boisterously celebrated…: Senshi Sosho, Report of Capt. Sakiyama. “It’s coming from all sides…”: Paul E. Papish, UNT interview, 42. Flooding of Turret One: Hamlin, “Statement,” 6–7. Houston engaged by torpedo boats: Winslow, The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait, 140; Smith, “USS Houston,” 11. “The ship seemed to be thrown sideways…”: William J. Weissinger to Robert J. Cressman, Sept. 1977. Roar of Japanese ships’ firerooms: Donald Brain, UNT interview, 38–39. “It was point-blank…”: Frank King, UNT interview, 26. “It was invigorating to be in a battle like that…”: Melfred L. Forsman, UNT interview, 32. “I thought I was going to get it…”: Ibid. “You could hear them cooking”: Winslow, 146. “My God, those magnesium flares just light a place up”: Papish, 41.

CHAPTER 20 (pp. 137 to 145)

Movements of Houston: USS Houston, “Zentsuji Report,” 3, and Battle of Sunda Strait action report, 7. “Because of the overwhelming volume of fire…”: Sunda Strait Action Report, 8. “In a strong, resolute voice…”: Winslow, The Ghost That Died at Sunda Strait, 140; per the Houston