HMS Broke (D83)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See HMS Broke for a list of other ships of this name
HMS Broke was a Thornycroft type flotilla leader of the Royal Navy. She was originally named Rooke after Admiral Sir George Rooke of the Dutch Wars and the Battle of Vigo Bay.
She was built in Woolston, Southampton by J I Thornycroft and launched during 1920.
On 8 November 1942 Broke, was commanded by Henry Fancourt. She was one of the ships to take part in Operation Terminal, part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of West Africa. In Terminal HMS Broke and HMS Malcolm would attempt to land infantry directly onto the portside in Algiers in the hope of capturing the port facilities and preventing their destruction by the Vichy French forces. It was hoped that either complete surprise would be achieved or that the defenders would support the invasion to the extent at least of refusing to fire on the attackers. However the Vichy forces opened fire on the ships at 4:06 AM, damaging them heavily.
Malcolm was forced to withdraw, but Broke succeeded in landing her troops under fire and then retreated. The landed infantry were surrounded and forced to surrender seven hours later. However they succeeded in preventing the destruction of the port before the defenders in turn surrendered to the larger invading forces. Broke was sunk by artillery later in the day.
