USS Pope (Lt.Cdr. Welford Charles Blinn) departs Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies on 28 February 1942 together with the British heavy cruiser HMS Exeter and the British destroyer HMS Encounter. The ships are ordered to try to escape through the Sunda Strait to Tjilatjap. Unfortunately they are spotted by Japanese warships and the Exeter and Encounter are sunk during the following engagement. Pope manages to escape only to be bombed by Japanese aircraft which leaves her unmanouverable after a near-miss. She is finally sunk by gunfire from Japanese warships in position 04º00'S, 111º30'E on 1 March 1942.only one rating is killed and 8 wounded which include the Commanding officer however 152 of the crew are Rescued by the IJNS Inazuma and Kawakaze and made Prisoners of war. Only 123 are liberated which include the Commanding officer and 29 died in captivity.

For the full action report see this website (offsite link).