Martadinata was born in
Bandung,
West Java, on 29 March 1921. His father was Raden Ruhiyat Martadinata and his mother was Nyi Raden Suhaemi. He completed his education through
senior high school, first in Bandung then in
Batavia (now
Jakarta). After graduating high school he enrolled in a Dutch-run school for sailors in 1941, but following the
Japanese occupation the following year the school was closed. He later continued, under Japanese tutelage, and by 1944 was working as an assistant teacher. After his return to Indonesia he supervised the purchase of various ships for the Navy. this and
similar communist purges led to deaths of thousands, although the total number of victims is uncertain. In February 1966 Martadinata left the Navy as he perceived the government to be unwilling to deal with communists. He was reassigned as Indonesia's ambassador to
Pakistan. Since then he has been the namesake for various items, including streets, a building at the Navy Command and Staff College and two warships ( and ). ,
West Java Martadinata was awarded the title of
National Hero of Indonesia on 7 October 1966, based on Presidential Decree No. 220 of 1966. == Honours ==