On 26 July, 1945 HMS Vestal was hit by a Japanese kamikaze pilot whilst participating in Operation Livery, a diversionary minesweeping exercise off Phuket Island on the coast of Siam. The damage was critical and, as the ship was close to Japanese-held Thailand, the crew were removed and the ship scuttled. She was the last Royal Navy ship to be sunk in World War II.

The photograph below shows HMS Vestal in all her glory.

 Image courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

If you would like to delve deeper into the history of the British Navy during World War II then take a look at these books:

New Vanguard 160: British Battleships 1939-45 (2)

New Vanguard 74: British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45

New Vanguard 129: British Submarines 1939-45

New Vanguard 88: British Battlecruisers 1939-45

Elite 79: The Royal Navy 1939-45