Allied Warships

HMS Verulam (R 28)

Destroyer of the V class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeDestroyer
ClassV 
PennantR 28 
Built byFairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. (Govan, Scotland) 
Ordered1 Sep 1941 
Laid down26 Jan 1942 
Launched22 Apr 1943 
Commissioned10 Dec 1943 
End service 
Loss position
 
History

Reconstructed as Type 15 frigate during 1952.

Scrapped in 1972.

Commanding Officers:
Lt.Cdr. William Scott Thomas, DSC, RN
20 September 1943 – 20 September 1944

Lt.Cdr. Mark Thornton, DSO, DSC, RN
20 September 1944 – 8 December 1944

Lt.Cdr. Douglas Henry Reid Bromley, RN
8 December 1944 - still in command in October 1945 according to the Navy List
DSC awarded on 14 September 1945

 

Commands listed for HMS Verulam (R 28)

Please note that we're still working on this section.

CommanderFromTo
1Lt.Cdr. William Scott Thomas, DSC, RN20 Sep 194320 Sep 1944
2Lt.Cdr. Mark Thornton, DSC, DSO, RN20 Sep 19448 Dec 1944
3Lt.Cdr. Douglas Henry Reid Bromley, RN8 Dec 1944Oct 1945 ?

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Noteable events involving Verulam include:


16 May 1945
On 9 May 1945 the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro and the Japanese destroyer Kamikaze (both offsite links) left Singapore for a transport run to the Andaman Islands. They were sighted the next day in Malakka Strait by the British submarines HMS Statesman (Lt. R.G.P. Bulkeley, RN) and HMS Subtle (Lt. B.J.B. Andrew, DSC, RN). To intercept the Japanese ships a task force made up of 2 battleships, 1 heavy cruiser, 2 light cruisers, 4 escort carriers and 8 destroyers left Trincomalee. Aircraft from the escort carriers attacked the Nicobar Islands on the 11th, forcing Haguro and Kamikaze to head back to Singapore.

On the 14th the Japanese ships again depart Singapore for the Andaman Islands. They were spotted the next day north-east of Sabang by aircraft the British escort carrier HMS Shah (Capt. W.J. Yendell, RN). A few hours later they were attacked by aircraft from the British escort carrier HMS Emperor (Capt. Sir C. Madden, RN) causing light damaged to Haguro. In the meantime Japanese aircraft have sighted Allied destroyers closing in on Haguro and once again the Japanese ships reverse course.

In anticipation on the Japanese reversal of course the commander of the British 26th DF, Capt. M.L. Power, CBE, DSO with Bar, RN on board HMS Saumarez and the other British destroyers HMS Venus (Cdr. H.G.D. De Chair, DSC with Bar, RN), HMS Verulam (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, DSC, RN), HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, DSC, RN) and HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, DSC, RN) plotted a course to intercept the Japanese ships which they did shortly before midnight on the 15th. After careful manouvering the destroyers began attacking the Japanese ships from all sides shortly after one o'clock on the 16th. The Haguro was hit by torpedoes and gunfire and sinks around 0230hours in position 04º49'N, 99º42'E but not before she hit the Saumarez with gunfire. The escorting Japanese destroyer Kamikaze escapes with only minor damage.

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