The First HMS Argyll

Although the identity of the first Royal Navy vessel to bear the name Argyll is known, there is some doubt as to the exact origins. Originally named Bonaventur, she was launched at Chatham as a 50-gun two decker ship of the line in 1711. The name of the ship was changed in May 1715 to Argyle (before the outbreak of the Jacobite Rebellion). Rebuilt at Woolwich in 1722-23, the Argyle was continuously in commisision for the next 20 years, in home and Atlantic waters. Crises with Spain recurred almost annually but war was postponed until 1739 when the Argyle was employed in blockade duties off the north and west coasts. In 1741 she took five small coasters and with the assistance of two other warships cut out five captured British ships at Redonela near Vigo. In late 1745 the British ships captured at sea and cut out of the harbours a large number of merchant ships and the Argyle and two consorts were sent further afield to round up any others. The Argyle returned to Britain at the end of the year, escorting a convoy. She was paid off in 1746 without seeing any further service and after the peace was signed in 1749 was towed to Harwich and scuttled as part of a breakwater.

The second HMS Argyll

In spite of the long and successful service of the first ship of the name, no new HMS Argyll was launched until 1904. Built by Scotts of Greenock she was armoured cruiser of the Devonshire class. She was laid down on 1 October 1902, launched on 3 March 1904 and finally completed in December 1905. HMS Argyll was armed with four 7-inch and six 6-inch guns, she displaced 10,850 tons and her 21,190 horsepower engines produced 22.4 knots through her twin screws. She was 450 feet long, with a beam of 68 feet and a draught of 25 feet. Her complement was between 655 and 700 men. She served with the 1st Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic in 1906/7, the Channel between 1907 and 1909 and joined the 5th Cruiser Squadron for service in the Atlantic in 1909 and 1912. 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. Thereafter, she was employed mainly on patrol off the north east coast of Scotland. It was in the course of one of these patrols on the night of 28 October 1915 that the Argyll ran aground on the Bell Rock, whose light had been extinguished by order of the Admiralty. Although there were no fatalities, the ship became a total wreck with only the 6-inch guns being salvaged.

The present HMS Argyll

The 3rd Royal Navy ship to bear the name, she is also the 3rd of the Royal Navy's duke class frigates and was commissioned on 30 May 1991. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow to a revolutionary design with a superstructure shaped to minimise radar reflections and to make the ship as small as a fishing boat on the enemy's radar, and with engines so quiet as to be inaudible, HMS Argyll represents the latest in naval technology. The Ship's Company is small, only 180 people although each one trained to be proficient in high-tech maritime warfare, whether controlling the engines or firing missiles. HMS Argyll is Commanded by Commander Gavin Pritchard Royal Navy and is based in Devonport, Plymouth.