Scilly Steamship Company. In July 1960 John Ward Thornycroft, John Edward Thornycroft's son, replaced his father as chairman of the company. In 1962, John I. Thornycroft and Sons was building wooden yachts in Singapore. In 1966, Thornycrofts merged with Vosper & Company, part of the David Brown Group, to form one organisation called, by 1970, Vosper Thornycroft. The merger made sense, because Thornycroft had yard space but few orders, while Vosper had the orders but lacked space. The combined company built new facilities at Woolston and production continued there until 2004. However, by 2003, the company had outgrown even those facilities, and it was decided to move production to a new yard at Portchester, Hampshire. Later, Vosper Thornycroft changed its business name to VT Group and, in 2010, was absorbed by Babcock International, which integrated the UK portion of VT Group into its own business. In 2012, Babcock sold the US-based operation, and the VT Group name, to the Jordan Company. Shipbuilding successor of Thornycroft continues as BAE Systems Surface Ships in Portsmouth. Royal Navy classes built by Thornycroft D-class destroyer (1913) Coastal Motor Boats Thornycroft type leader Thornycroft M-class destroyer Type IV Hunt-class destroyer Landing Craft Assault HMS Duchess – Daring class destroyer 1952 HMS Palawan and Panglima – 75' patrol boats built in 1937 for RNVR in Singapore at the Tanjong Rhu Shipyard (1926-1986) References External links History of Platts Eyot with some photos of Thornycroft vessels Defunct shipbuilding companies of England Former defence companies of the United Kingdom Shipbuilding in London British companies established in 1866 Shipyards on the River Thames 1866 establishments in England Manufacturing companies established in 1866 British Shipbuilders