NAVYPEDIA

Photo

  Agincourt 1964  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Agincourt	I06, 1948- D86	664	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	12/1943	29.1.1945	6.1947	BU 10.1974
Aisne	I22, 1948- D22	74	Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	8/1943	12.5.1945	3/1947	BU 6.1970
Alamein	I17, 1948- D17	665	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	3.1944	28.5.1945	5.1948	BU 12.1964
Albuera		75	Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	9/1943	28.8.1945	---	cancelled 12.1945
Barrosa	I68, 1948- D68	615	John Brown, Clydebank	12/1943	17.1.1945	2/1947	BU 12.1978
Belle Isle		714	Fairfield, Govan	11/1943	7.2.1946	---	cancelled 12.1945
Corunna	I97, 1948- D97		Swan Hunter, Wallsend	4/1944	29.5.1945	6/1947	sold 8.1974
Dunkirk	I09, 1948- D09	603	A. Stephens, Linthouse	7/1944	27.8.1945	11.1946	BU 11.1965
Jutland (ex-Malplaquet)	I16, 1948- D62	604	A. Stephens, Linthouse	11.1944	20.2.1946	4.1947	BU 10.1965
Matapan	I43, 1948- D43	616	John Brown, Clydebank	3/1944	30.4.1945	9/1947	sold 5.1979
Mons		668	Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn	6.1945	---	---	cancelled 12.1945
Namur		1152	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	4.1944	12.6.1945	---	cancelled 12.1945
Navarino		1153	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	5.1944	21.9.1945	---	cancelled 12.1945
Omdurman		715	Fairfield, Govan	3.1944	---	---	cancelled 12.1945
Oudenarde		1715	Swan Hunter, Wallsend	10.1944	11.9.1945	---	cancelled 12.1945
San Domingo		1154	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	12.1944	---	---	cancelled 12.1945

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	35.75
Endurance, nm(kts) (at sped, kts)	---	4400 (15)
Max speed, kts, kn	---	35.75
Data variant	as completed	1960-62 radar picket conversion
Displacement standard, t	2380 - 2400	2780
Displacement full, t	3400 - 3420	3430
Length, m	108.2 pp 115.5 oa	108.2 pp 115.5 oa
Breadth, m	12.3	12.3
Draught, m	4.67 deep load	4.70 deep load
No of shafts	2	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	50000	50000
Fuel, t	oil 727, diesel oil 40
Endurance, nm(kts)	4400(20)
Armament	2 x 2 - 114/45 RP.10 Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 114/45 RP.50 Mk V, 2 x 2 - 40/60 STAAG Mk II, 1 x 2 - 40/60 RP.50 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 2 x 5 - 533 TT, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk 4 ASWRL	1 x 4 Sea Cat GWS20 SAM (8 Sea Cat), 2 x 2 - 114/45 Mk 4, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk 4 ASWRL
Electronic equipment	2x type 262, type 275, 2x type 282, type 291, type 293 radars, type 170, type 174 sonars	type 965P (AKE-2), type 262, type 275, type 277Q, type 293Q, type 978 radars, type 170, type 177 sonars, UA-8.9.10, type 667 ECM suites
Complement	281 - 306	268

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

The unique destroyer class created in Britain in days of war taking into account its experience and taken symbolical part in operations. Works on the design of new destroyer of the 1942 program have begun in summer of previous year. For the first time in British practice DP guns in highly mechanized mounts and corresponding fire control system were provided. As a starting point for designing "L" class destroyers had been chosen, which dimensions have a little increased (basically a hull breadth) for arranging of heavier armament consisting of two twin 120mm DP turrets with 80°  elevation angle, three twin 40mm Boforses with radar aiming, 6 single 20mm Oerlikons and two quadruple TT. All main guns took places in a bow since experience of the first years of war has shown, that English destroyers seldom shoot aft. This decision later has served as an occasion to design criticism. It is necessary to mark, however, that "B" mount was installed freely enough, had circular rotation and "dead" aft sector was not so great, as it seems at first sight.

Transition to usage of a high-parameters steam (pressure of 50kgf/cm2, in comparison with 21 kgf/cm2 on previous classes, since "A") became the important innovation.

In March, 1942 the important decision to transition from 120mm to 114mm guns with better ballistic characteristics and more heavy shell was accepted. The unitary cartridge developed for this gun has appeared too heavy for work with it on such small ships as destroyers. Therefore the gun (is more exact, its breech) has been re-designed to separate loading. Test of new artillery system has passed on destroyer Savage ("S" class). Simultaneously armament included 102mm/40 DP gun for star shells (instead of a traditional searchlight) and have increased to 4 number of twin Boforses. For raise of efficiency antiaircraft artillery it was supposed to equip the ships with stabilizers, but they have appeared only on Camperdown.

8 more ships of modified design (so-called "Battle" of 1943 Programme, with new fire control system, fifth 114mm gun and quintuple TTs) were completed in 1946-1948. The beam was 1m more for compensation of top weight increasing. US Mk 37 director was installed. Single 114mm gun had 55° maximal elevation. Two twin Boforses were in STAAG triaxial mounts and one biaxial.

Modernizations

1960 - 1962, Agincourt, Aisne, Barrosa, Corunna were converted to radar pickets, as given in the table.

Naval service

Matapan was never commissioned. She was laid up when completed and converted to sonar trials ship in 1971 - 1973. All radar pickets were laid up to 1970.

Many thanks to Borys Estrin for additional information on this page.