HMS Scourge (G01)
# HMS Scourge (G01)

HMS Scourge was an S-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. The ship was sold to the Netherlands postwar, where it saw action in the Korean War and the West New Guinea dispute.

## Description

Scourge displaced 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) at standard load and 2,530 long tons (2,570 t) at deep load. She had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches (110.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.9 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 m). She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Scourge carried a maximum of 615 long tons (625 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Her complement was 170 officers and ratings.

The ship was armed with four 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark XII guns in dual-purpose mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Scourge had one twin mount for Bofors 40 mm guns and four twin 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon autocannon. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. Two depth charge rails and four throwers were fitted for which 70 depth charges were provided.

## Construction and career

HMS Scourge was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead and launched on 8 December 1942. She was at sea during the Battle of North Cape in 1943, escorting the Russia-bound Arctic convoy JW 55B. She took no part in the fighting.

### Postwar

She was sold to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 1 February 1946 and was renamed HNLMS Evertsen (D802). During the Korean War she was part of the diverse Task Force 96 in the US Seventh Fleet, and saw service during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. She was converted to a fast frigate in 1957.

She was deployed during the period of tension between the Netherlands and Indonesia over the fate of New Guinea, and saw action during the Battle of Arafura Sea, sinking the Indonesian Jaguar-class torpedo boat Matjan Tutul, commanded by Yos Sudarso.

She was scrapped at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht from July 1963.

