At 3.15am on October 18, 1941, the destroyer HMS Broadwater was escorting a British convoy south west of Iceland.

The lookouts were scanning the steely-grey seas for signs of enemy activity for, below the waves, a shadowy killer loomed.

Then, without warning, the ship erupted into a mass of bright orange flames as a torpedo from a German Uboat crashed into it.

A total of 45 men died, including an American officer by the name of Lieutenant John Parker, who enlisted in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve before the US entered the war.

But the loss of life would have been far greater if two armed trawlers had not been in the area at the time.

The Navy held a Board of Inquiry in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, where survivors gave evidence.

One report, stamped "Secret", gives a graphic account of the action and subsequent bravery of the crew.

Lieutenant Commander WM Astwood, the Broadwater's skipper, said:

"The bow and upper bridge were blown off and, at the same time, a torpedo was seen to pass astern of the ship by the 12-pounder gun crew.

"I was asleep in the chart house at the time and the first thing I remember was the coxswain reporting to me that the forepart of the ship had been blown away.

"As I sustained head injuries, my memories of succeeding events are in rather a hazy state.

"On inspection, the following state of the ship was found: From the bow to the after-hatch of the forward seamen's mess deck was completely gone, as was the structure above it, which contained the wardroom and officers cabins.

"The upper bridge was blown away, except for the hotchkiss (machine gun) mounting. The mast was snapped and had fallen aft. The front of the wheelhouse had completely gone but the wheel was still standing.

"A considerable amount of the wreckage of the bridge and forepart of the ship was found on the gundeck."

Lt Cdr Astwood said the ship's back was probably broken and the ship appeared to be sinking slowly.

He added: "HM trawlers Cape Warwick and Angle now appeared to be standing by. As I was becoming more weak and useless, I turned over (command)

to the navigating officer, the only surviving executive officer, to carry out the ferrying of survivors to the trawlers.

"Work carried out by the trawlers'

small boats was most praiseworthy considering the weather prevailing.

The evacuation was finally completed at 9.45am "Seeing the chances of salvage were nil, I asked Cape Warwick to sink her with gunfire."

Lt Cdr Ashwood said the general behaviour of the ship's company was excellent. Sadly, at the time HMS Broadwater was torpedoed there were on board 11 survivors from two other vessels sunk by German submarines.

After cheating death once, all perished.

Sub-Lieutenant rook Smith, the Broadwater's navigating officer, was specially commended for destroying all confidential books and ensuring the safe evacuation of survivors, most of whom were covered in oil.

Chief Petty Officer Carthew, the cox, saved the life of a sailor who had been blown into an oil fuel tank and was in danger of drowning.

The trawler crews were praised for lifting men from the Broadwater in a heavy swell despite the threat of their own boats being dashed against the side of the sinking destroyer.

Retired policeman Chalky White, from Worthing, stumbled across the story of HMS Broadwater while researching the fate of another ship.

He was surprised there was no memorial to the warship in the town and began a quest to ensure the vessel and its crew were remembered.

The campaign culminated in a special service at St Mary's Church, Broadwater, the unveiling of a plaque and a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Worthing at nearby Broadwater Manor School, which on its annual speech day presents the HMS Broadwater Trophy to a pupil.

The plaque was provided free of charge by Monumental Masons, of Broadwater.

Four survivors of the ship, and their families, attended the moving service, joining relatives of those who died.

Earlier this year, another plaque was unveiled at Chichester Cathedral following a parade through the city.

Mr White said: "I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am that the ship will now be remembered in perpetuity in Broadwater."