Van de Nederlandse strijdkrachten telde de marine de meeste mensen.

Van de Nederlandse strijdkrachten telde de marine de meeste mensen. In tegenstelling tot de landmacht was de marine er begin mei 1940 in geslaagd een aanzienlijk deel van personeel en materieel uit Nederland te evacueren. Daarnaast bevond zich in de Indische wateren het marinesmaldeel dat belast was met de verdediging van de archipel. Naast het escorteren van konvooien hebben Nederlandse marineschepen deelgenomen aan belangrijke geallieerde acties en operaties op alle wereldzeeën. Hierbij kwamen 2900 marinemensen om, waarvan 900 bij de slag in de Javazee. Marine: Onderzeeboten. Dutch submarine returns to Britain after three adventurous years. The Dutch submarine 0 19 has at last returned to Britain for a long overdue refit after three years of adventurous service in the Dutch East Indies, Singapore and the Indian Ocean. This big minelaying submarine built for service in the East Indies, had remarkable escapes from the Java Sea, Singapore and Soerabaya, before reaching Colombo. The submarine sank its first on 10th January 1942, the Arita Maru, a 4,000 ton troopship. They believe that a 5,000 ton supply ship also was hit on their torpedoes, but could not confirm its loss. When the 0 19 at last reached a British port, she was greeted by Rear Admiral J.W. Termijtelen, RNN in the United Kingdom. The Admiral decorated the Captain of submarine with the Netherlands Bronze Cross with Honourable Mention, the equivalent of the DSO, and the First Lieutenant, the Chief Engineer, three Petty Officers and one rating with the Bronze Cross the equivalent of the DSC.