Which commander said: "I am attacking, follow me," and then went down with his ship in the Battle of the Java Sea?

Karel Doorman, of The Royal Netherlands Navy, gave these orders at the approach of the Japanese fleet during the Battle of the Java Sea on February 28, 1942. He commanded the ABDACOM forces. This was a hastily organized command of American, British, Dutch, and Australian forces in the Pacific to meet the overwhelming Japanese invasion during Dutch East Indies Campaign.

During the German occupation of the Netherlands, Rear Admiral Doorman was stationed in the Dutch East Indies. Japan had invaded the East Indies for its oil and rubber resources which were considered crucial to the Japanese war effort.

Better prepared for war, the Japanese had the advantage. They were better supplied and had more advanced ships. Preoccupied with the German onslaught in Europe, the British and especially Dutch were unprepared for the onslaught in the Pacific.

The Dutch government in exile, though, was still determined to fight. The Allies were hampered by a lack of cohesion among the four divergent navies. They were demoralized due to constant air raids by the Japanese who controlled the air. At this stage the Japanese aggression was considered unstoppable. Attempts to turn back the invasion met with disaster. Facing total defeat and total destruction of the Dutch forces, Doorman, went down with his ship, the light cruiser, DeRuyter, instead of being evacuated and rescued.