HMS Broke

H.M.S. Broke

(SeaVee SV-533a)

Class: Shakespeare - 3 destroyer leaderss of 1916-17
Displacement: 1,480 tons standard / 2,009 tons deep load
Dimensions: 329 (oa) x 31.5 x 12.5 ft.
Machinery: Geared turbines: 2 screws, 40,000shp = 36 knots
Armament: 2-4.7in (2x1), 1-12pdr AA, 2-2pdr AA (2x1), 2-20mm AA (2x1); 6-21in (2x3) TT
ASW: Hedgehog, DC
Complement: 164

Notes: One of seven destroyer leaders ordered from Thornycroft, but two were cancelled and only two, including Shakespeare, were completed during World War I. Three were completed postwar and remained in service at the outbreak of World War II, with Broke, ex-Rooke, being completed at Pembroke Dockyard. At the beginning of the war, she was part of the 29th Division, 15th Destroyer Flotilla, serving in the Western Approaches and North Atlantic, and took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940. She underwent conversion to a Short Range Escort trading three 4.7in guns for an increased AA and ASW fit. She was also the first ship to be camouflaged in the Western Approaches Scheme, as shown here.
HMS Broke was chosen to participate in the direct assault on Algiers harbor in the early morning hours of 8 Nov 1942, during Operation Torch, along with HMS Malcolm. They embarked troops from the 135th Regimental Combat Team, 34th US Infantry Division. During the course of the action Malcolm was badly damaged by shore batteries and forced to retire. Broke managed to secure alongside the Quai de Falaise and disembark her troops. While the troops were forced to surrender, she was able to cast off and steam back out of the harbor, but her damage was substantial and she sank later on 10 Nov while under tow.