HMS Agincourt (D86)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Agincourt.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Agincourt
Ordered	1943
Builder	Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Hebburn
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

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.

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. 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. 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.

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

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.
• Hodges, Peter (1971). Battle Class Destroyers. London: Almark Publishing. ISBN 0-85524-012-1.