HMS Agincourt (D86)

HMS Agincourt (D86) was a later or 1943 Battle-class fleet destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was named in honour of the Battle of Agincourt, fought in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War. Agincourt was built by R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Company Limited on the River Tyne. She was launched on 29 January 1945 and commissioned on 25 June 1947.

HMS Agincourt underway
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Agincourt
Ordered:	1943
Builder:	Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn[1]
Yard number:	664
Laid down:	12 December 1943
Launched:	29 January 1945
Completed:	25 June 1947
Commissioned:	25 June 1947
Decommissioned:	1972
Fate:	Broken up 1974
General characteristics
Class and type:	Battle-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,480 tons standard
Length:	379 ft (116 m)
Beam:	40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
Draught:	12 ft 8 in (3.86 m) mean 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) maximum
Propulsion:	Oil fired, two three-drum boilers, Parsons geared turbines, twin screws, 50,000 hp (37 MW)
Speed:	35.75 knots (66.21 km/h)
Complement:	268
Armament:	Originally: 5 × 4.5-inch (114 mm) guns 8 × Bofors 40 mm guns 10 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes 2 × Squid mortar From 1959: Sea Cat missiles
Service record
Part of:	4th Destroyer Flotilla 4th Destroyer Squadron

Service

She joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, part of the Home Fleet based in the UK. In 1951, Agincourt subsequently became Captain (D), meaning she was the leader of the flotilla. In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2] In the following year Agincourt, along with the rest of the squadron, formerly flotilla, deployed to the Mediterranean. The squadron and Agincourt did not return home until the following year. In 1956 Agincourt she formed part of the Royal Navy force which took part in the Suez Crisis. In 1957, Agincourt, and the 4th Destroyer Squadron, returned to the Mediterranean.

Refit and conversion to Radar Picket

In 1959, Agincourt and three of her sister-ships underwent conversion to become radar pickets. The conversion included the addition of the Sea Cat missile and new radar, as well as newer Anti-Aircraft weaponry. In 1962, Agincourt returned to active duty and saw service in the Home and Mediterranean Fleets with a variety of squadrons.[3] On 16 November 1962 Agincourt took part in the search for a helicopter from the aircraft carrier Hermes that had ditched off St David's Head in South west Wales (and in particular, the politician Lord Windlesham who was missing after the crash), and on the next day, was refuelling at Milford Haven when she was ordered to go to the aid of the replenishment tanker Green Ranger, which was in difficulty while being towed in heavy seas off Hartland Point on the coast of Devon. By the time Agincourt reached Hartland Point, Green Ranger's towline had parted, and the tanker had run aground. Agincourt illuminated Green Ranger with searchlights while the Appledore lifeboat attempted to rescue the seven men aboard Green Ranger, until they were taken off by Breeches buoy from the shore.[4]

In 1966, Agincourt was reduced to Operational Reserve, and was subsequently placed on the disposal list in 1972. She was broken up in Sunderland in 1974.[5]

Commanding officers

From	To	Captain
1948	1949	Captain Ralph G Swallow RN
1949	1950	Captain Deric D E Holland RN
1951	1952	Captain Martin J Evans RN
1952	1954	Captain J Lee-Barber DSO RN
1954	1956	Captain Nicholas A Copeman RN
1956	1957	Captain Derick H F Hetherington RN
1957	1959	Captain Erroll N Sinclair RN
1959	1962	Under conversion
1962	1964	Commander Elgar RN
1964	1964	Commander D J Hallifax RN
1964	1966	Lieutenant-Commander C Grant RN

[6]

References

1. "HMS Agincourt (D86)". tynebuiltships.com. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
2. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
3. Critchley 1982, pp. 115–116
4. "A Hectic Week-End for Agincourt". Navy News. January 1963. pp. 5, 9. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
5. Critchley, Mike, "British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers", Maritime Books: Liskeard, UK, 1982. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2, page 115-6
6. Royal Navy Senior Appointments, Colin Mackie

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Hodges, Peter (1971). Battle Class Destroyers. London: Almark Publishing. ISBN 0-85524-012-1.