|
| |
|
HMS
Argyll is the third ship in the Royal Navy to bear the name
|
One
of the Type 23 'Duke' class frigates, HMS Argyll was launched in 1989 and
commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1991.
The strong links with the Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders are shown by their shared motto:
Ne Obliviscaris
(Lest We Forget).
But HMS Argyll is not the first
Royal Navy ship to bear that proud name
|
 |
|
-
The First HMS
Argyll
The first Argyll was originally named Bonaventur, a 50-gun fourth
rate frigate launched at Chatham in 1711. The name was changed in
1715 to Argyle (before the outbreak of the Jacobite Rebellion).
Rebuilt at Woolwich in 1722-23, the Argyle was continuously in commission
for the next 20 years - mostly engaged in the various crises with
Spain which resulted in the war of 1739. The Argyle was employed in
blockade duties, and in 1741 helped cut out five captured British
ships at Redonela near Vigo. In 1746 she was paid off after a long
and successful service and, with the peace of 1749, was towed to
Harwich and scuttled as part of a breakwater.
-
The second HMS
Argyll
The new HMS Argyll was built by Scotts of Greenock. Laid down in
1902, launched in 1904 and completed in December 1905. launched in
1904 this 450-foot armoured cruiser of the Devonshire class had
four 7-inch and six 6-inch guns, displaced 10,850 tons and had
21,190 horsepower engines producing 22.4 knots through twin screws.
Her complement was over 650 men. Argyll served with the 1st Cruiser
Squadron in the Atlantic in 1906/7, in the Channel between 1907 and
1909, with the 5th Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic in 1909 and
1912 and at the outbreak of war, HMS Argyll was in the 3rd cruiser
Squadron with the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. She patrolled in the
Shetlands area and captured a German merchantman on 6 August 1914,
and in November 1914 was redeployed to Rosyth as an anti-invasion
and anti-raiding force. On 24 November 1914, HMS Argyll took part
in an aborted raid on Helgioland and Cuxhaven, after which she
mainly patrolled off the north east coast of Scotland. During one
of these patrols on the night of 28 October 1915 HMS Argyll ran
aground on the Bell Rock, whose light had been extinguished by
order of the Admiralty. There were no fatalities, but the ship was
wrecked and only the 6-inch guns were salvaged.
-
The
present HMS Argyll
The third of the Royal Navy’s Duke class frigates, she was built
by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow to a revolutionary design. With a
superstructure shaped to minimise radar reflections which makes the
ship as small as a fishing boat on radar, and with almost inaudible
engines, HMS Argyll represents the latest in naval technology. The
ship’s company is only 180, but all are proficient in high-tech
maritime warfare. Argyll is based in Devonport, Plymouth.
|
| |
|
A&SH RA - Registered Charity Number
0000000