The Thornycroft type[3] or Shakespeare-class[4][5] leaders, were like the similar and contemporary Admiralty type (also known as the Scott-class)[6][7] were designed to meet a requirement from Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, commander of the Grand Fleet, for a large, fast and heavily armed flotilla leader to match and outclass rumoured large German destroyers.

[9][nb 1] The ship's machinery consisted of four Yarrow boilers that fed steam at 250 pounds per square inch (1,700 kPa) to two sets of Brown-Curtis single-reduction geared-steam turbines, rated at 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW).

[12] Up to 500 tons of oil fuel could be carried, giving a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

[12] After trials and workup, Broke was ordered to the Mediterranean, arriving at Malta on 9 February 1925 and replacing Montrose as leader of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla.

While in reserve, she acted as tender to the Royal Naval Engineering College at Keyham, Plymouth until April 1932, and then served as Emergency destroyer at Devonport.

[18] After completing the refit, Broke returned to reserve duties at Devonport, again acting as Emergency destroyer and as a tender for the Royal Naval Engineering College.

[18] On 2 September 1937 Broke was sent to investigate an SOS signal from the South African merchant ship Sherard Osborn in the Bay of Biscay.

The Captain of Sherard Osborn had sent the signal fearing an imminent mutiny owing to an overtime dispute and poor conditions aboard the ship, but intervention by Broke was not needed.

[22] On 20 November that year, Broke was damaged in a collision with the destroyer Witch and was under repair at Devonport from 31 December 1937 to 28 January 1938.

Broke picked up 180 Polish troops and 20 British civilians from Brest, France on 18 June, landing them at Plymouth.

[citation needed] From January to March 1941, Broke was refitted by Harland & Wolff at their London yard, with additional stiffening being fitted.

Broke, in the vicinity, was called to assist, and together with Lincoln and Glenartney, rescued the survivors of the Armed Merchant Cruiser, with Broke remaining on the leeward quarter of Comorin for three hours in a gale to pick up survivors, picking up 180 men before scuttling Comorin with a torpedo.

[40] When Broke emerged in July 1942, three 4.7 inch guns were removed, to be replaced by a hedgehog anti-submarine projector and six 20 mm Oerlikon cannon, with Type 272 radar and HF/DF also fitted.

In "Terminal", the two destroyers, which were under the overall command of Captain Henry Fancourt[nb 5] were to 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.