HMS Dorsetshire and Cornwall sunk

5th April 1942: Two cruisers sunk off Ceylon - as the Royal Navy again underestimate the range and power of Japanese carrier borne aircraft

“Sinking of HMS Cornwall at The Battle of the Indian Ocean” by Hishiro Kobayakawa 1942

The early morning attack on the Royal Navy base at Colombo, Ceylon by Japanese carrier based planes had been largely thwarted by a lack of surprise - after the Japanese attack group had been spotted on the 4th April.

Nevertheless the Royal Navy ships in the Indian Ocean…