There were two aircraft carriers in the Dutch Royal Navy, both named Karel Doorman after the rear-admiral who was killed in the battle against the Japanese in the Javazee in 1942. Doorman commanded the Allied squadron ABDA (American-British-Dutch-Australian), which squadron was totally destroyed, including the two Dutch cruisers Java and De Ruyter. In the Second World War there were also two MAC-ships (Merchant Aircraft Carriers) named Gadila and Macoma in Dutch service.
The Karel Doorman (I) was launched as the Nairana 20 May 1943 by J. Brown&Co. Ltd. at Clydebank. Displacement 14046 tons, dimensions 161.07/152.41 x 20.72 x7.85m. Maximum speed was 17 knots with 11000 ahp. She was armed with 2-10.2 cm guns, 16-40mm machineguns and 2x8 20mm machineguns. She was commissioned by the Royal Navy 12 December 1943 as HMS Nairana. Original she was laid down before the war for the Port Line as a fruit refrigerator ship but taken over by the Royal Navy and completed as a auxiliary carrier. In 1946 she was taken over by the Dutch Royal Navy and commissioned 20 March 1946 as the Karel Doorman (pennant QH 1). In 1948 she was given back to the Royal Navy when she was replaced by the Venerable, which became the Karel Doorman (II). Later she was rebuilt as a freighter and transferred to the Port Line Ltd as the Port Victor. As a so-called banana boat she later even meet the Karel Doorman (II).
