HMS Agincourt (D86)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HMS Agincourt
Career (UK) RN Ensign
Name: HMS Agincourt
Ordered: 1943
Builder: Hawthorn Leslie and Company
Laid down: 12 December 1943
Launched: 29 January 1945
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 feet (116 m)
Beam: 40 feet 6 inches (12.3 m)
Draught: 12 feet 8 inches (3.9 m) mean
17 feet 6 inches (5.3 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
4st Destroyer Squadron

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 the on 29 January 1945 and commissioned on the on 25 June 1947.

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 1954, 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 1957, Agincourt, and the 4th Destroyer Squadron, returned to the Mediterranean.

In 1959, Agincourt, along with three of her sister-ships, underwent conversion to become a Radar Picket. The conversion included the addition of the Sea Cat missile and new radar, as well as the addition of newer AA weaponry. In 1962, Agincourt she returned to active duty, and saw service in the Home and Mediterranean Fleets, with a variety of squadrons. In 1966, Agincourt was reduced to Operation Reserve, and was subsequently placed on the disposal list in 1972. She was broken up in Sunderland in 1974.