Karel Doorman
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Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman (April 23, 1889 - February 28, 1942) was a Dutch rear admiral (Dutch: schout-bij-nacht) during World War II.
He was originally a naval aviator in the Royal Netherlands Navy, but rose through the ranks to become rear admiral in 1940.
In early 1942 he was made commander of the combined American, British, Dutch and Australian (ABDA) fleet in the Dutch East Indies, a force consisting of cruisers and destroyers.
In February 1942, ordered by Admiral Helfrich, the successor of Admiral Thomas Hart in ABDA, to undertake offensive action against the Japanese invasion, he led his fleet into the battle of the Java Sea against a much stronger Japanese task force in the Java Sea. This battle proved a disaster for the Allies. Doorman became a Dutch maritime icon, because of his last words to the fleet: "Ik val aan, volg mij!" (I am attacking, follow me). In reality he only issued the command All ships follow me to prevent confusion when the damaged HMS Exeter sailed back to harbor on its own. Doorman just wanted to indicate that his ships should not follow the Exeter.
Karel Doorman died when his flagship De Ruyter was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the battle of the Java Sea and went under. There was time to escape the sinking flagship, but Doorman chose to go under, according to old naval tradition.
Several ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy have been named Karel Doorman.nl:Karel Doorman de:Karel Doorman