site west of Surabaya, Java, Perth, together with the British heavy cruiser and destroyers , and , then proceeded to Surabaya, where they joined ABDA's Eastern Strike Force under Rear-Admiral Karel Doorman. The force now consisted of the heavy cruisers Exeter and , three light cruisers (Doorman's flagship , and Perth), five modern destroyers (three British and two Dutch) and four elderly American destroyers. On the evening of the 26th, they sortied in an unsuccessful search for the Japanese ships. The Japanese received reports that the Allied ships were near their planned route at 11:00 on the 27th. Their cruisers launched floatplanes to confirm these reports and they spotted Doorman's ships heading east at 12:35. Five minutes later Doorman turned south to refuel in Surabaya. The Japanese observed this turn and they decided to continue with the landing at 13:40. Shortly after the Allied ships had passed through the minefield protecting the harbour entrance, Doorman received a report at 14:27 that the Japanese ships were northwest of Surabaya. He reversed course almost immediately intending to attack the convoy. The Japanese floatplanes observed his movements, despite attacks by Allied fighters at 14:18 and 14:30, and their report caught the invasion force widely separated as it prepared to conduct the landing that evening. Electra spotted the Japanese light cruiser at 16:12 which turned southwest and opened fire at a range of shortly afterwards. The heavy cruiser , trailing far behind, opened fire at at 16:17. The Allied heavy cruisers returned Nachis fire three minutes later. At 16:21 Doorman turned slightly southwards to prevent the Japanese from crossing his 'T' and Rear-Admiral Takeo Takagi, commander of the invasion escort force, turned slightly away to open up the range as the shooting on both sides had been accurate, although no hits were made. Doorman turned west southwest at 16:27 to better prevent his 'T' from being crossed, a manoeuvre that kept the range too far for the Allied light cruisers to contribute their gunfire. Both Japanese destroyer squadrons were manoeuvring during this time to make torpedo attacks using their powerful Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes. Both squadron flagships opened fire beginning at 16:30 with the destroyers of Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura's 4th Destroyer Squadron following between 16:40 and 16:45 at ranges from with a total of 31 torpedoes aimed at the Allied ships, all of which missed. Nachis sister contributed eight torpedoes at 16:52