HMS Agincourt,  Due to the South American Rivalry between Brazil, Argentina and Chile, The Brazilian Government ordered  from Armstrong's to be called Rio de Janeiro. The design was changed after a change of Government to incorporate seven main turrets making this a very long Battleship. The design was accepted and laid down in September 1911. But within the year the Brazilian Government were looking for another country to buy the Battleship and it was eventually sold to Turkey at the beginning of 1914 for £2,725,000. The battleship was to be called Sultan Osman I for the Ottoman empire. The ship was completed when world war one broke out but was not handed over to Turkey by Winston Churchill.  The admiralty had told to delay and slow down the final construction in the months of June and July, The Battleships went on a number of sea trials more than was expected by the Turkish Officers and Technicians. ending up on the Forth near the railway bridge on the 18th July. and in the morning sailed back to the Walker yard arriving o f the Royal Navy and called HMS Agincourt. (earning the nickname the Gin palace). She joined on the 22nd. On the 27th July the Turkish steamer the Neshid Pasha arrived with the Turkish crew and tied up at opposite the battleship. they were given the date of the 2nd of August for the handover. But on the 1st of August a detachment of Sherwood Foresters came marching through the gates with fixed bayonets and went onto the battleship. The Turkish Officers knew what was happening and no resistance was met. The Turkish crew who were on board left and boarded the Neshid Pasha, which then sailed from the berth.  On August the 3rd  the crew of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert got the signal to proceed to Tyne side for the commissioning of the new battleship. \it was to be commanded by captain Nicholson. The battleship joined the 4th battle squadron  of the Grand Fleet on the 7th September 1914. Transferring to the 1st Battle squadron in time for the Battle of Jutland.  She took part in the Battle of Jutland., firing 144 rounds from her 12 inch guns. receiving no damage or casualties during the action. In 1918 she joined the 2nd battle Squadron and in 1919 put on the disposal list. Recommissioned at Rosyth in 1919 as a experimental ship, and finally as a large depot ship with the removal off all main Gun turrets except no.1 and 2. All work on the alterations were stopped in 1921, before being scrapped in 1922.

HMS Agincourt, July 1914.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP366

HMS Agincourt. This battleship was originally meant for Brazil with the name of Rio de Janeiro but was purchased by Turkey and renamed Sultan Osman I. The ship was taken over again by the Royal Navy and she became HMS Agincourt at the start of WWI.

HMS Agincourt, 1918.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP370

HMS Agincourt with HMS Erin, 1918.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP371

HMS Agincourt, c.1916.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP368

HMS Agincourt, 1918.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP369

HMS Agincourt, December 1914.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP367

HMS Agincourt, 1914.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP365

HMS Agincourt photographed circa 1911.

Some crew of HMS Agincourt

Crew of HMS Agincourt during WW1.

Naval Historians, Crew & Family Noticeboard

Notice Board for naval enthusiasts and descendants of ex Crew of HMS Agincourt. This website is not part of any governmental body or official websites for HMS Agincourt.

Photographs and information on historical events about HMS Queen Mary requested for this new website. If you have any information you would like to send us including photographs of crew members serving on HMS Queen Mary and also photographs of the ship please  USE OUR MESSAGE FORM 

MESSAGES

HMS AGINCOURT

DANIEL GEORGE JARMAIN..  My great grandfather was 18 when he served on Agincourt.  However, he was only there for a month but would like to know about conditions and any information. Contact Here 

EDWARD THOMAS BLONDRAGE....   MY GRANDFATHER, EDWARD THOMAS BLONDRAGE SERVED ON HMS AGINCOURT AND ONCE TOLD ME HE WAS AT JUTLAND. HE DIED IN1969 SO I CANNOT GET ANY FURTHER INFO ABOUT HIM OR THE SHIP. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION OR ANYTHING MENTIONING HIM I WOULD BE GRATEFUL. I KNOW HE BOXED FOR THE SHIP AND WAS A TOUGH OLD BU..ER!!     john@hall489.fsnet.co.uk 

The Big Battleship by Richard Hough

This is the quite extraordinary, hilarious and yet melancholy tale of the biggest battleship of her era - Rio de Janeiro, Sultan Osman I and finally HMS Agincourt.  In the midst of the naval arms race that culminated in the First World War was the dreadnought battleship.  While the great powers built many, some smaller nations coveted battleships too.  None more so than Brazil, which stunned the world in 1911 by ordering the biggest battleship yet planned.  There followed a struggle between British and German shipyards to secure the order to build this monstrous warship.  Her completion on the Tyne, years later, took place under tragi-comic circumstances, with British bayonets barring possession to her rightful owners.  she had brought two countries close to bankruptcy and had become the prize in a tense international auction, having been the object of admiration, affection and despair.  She finally became HMS Agincourt and joined the British Grand Fleet, where she dwarfed her contemporaries.  The Big Battleship, or "Gin Palace" went to fight at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.  When broken up after the war, she was much missed by those who served in her, the quirkiest of the Grand Fleet's battleships

Post: UK- £4.00 (max post for multiple books £6.00).

For Europe £6.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

Book serial number BK1143. Book price £14.99. Illustrated  paper back with 165 pages.

To order your copy: secure order form