HMS Argyll (1904)

Argyll at anchor, 1909
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Argyll
Namesake:	Argyll
Builder:	Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering, Greenock
Laid down:	1 September 1902
Launched:	3 March 1904
Completed:	December 1905
Fate:	Wrecked on the Bell Rock, 28 October 1915
Status:	Diveable wreck
General characteristics
Class and type:	Devonshire-class armoured cruiser
Displacement:	10,850 long tons (11,020 t) (normal)
Length:	473 ft 6 in (144.3 m) (o/a)
Beam:	68 ft 6 in (20.9 m)
Draught:	24 ft (7.3 m)
Installed power:	21,000 ihp (16,000 kW) 16 Babcock & Wilcox boilers; 6 cylindrical boilers
Propulsion:	2 × Shafts 2 × 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Complement:	610
Armament:	4 × single BL 7.5-inch Mk I guns 6 × single BL 6-inch Mk VII guns 2 × single 12-pounder 8 cwt guns 18 × single QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns 2 × single 18-inch torpedo tubes
Armour:	Belt: 2–6 in (51–152 mm) Decks: .75–2 in (19–51 mm) Barbettes: 6 in (152 mm) Turrets: 5 in (130 mm) Conning tower: 12 in (305 mm) Bulkheads: 5 in (127 mm)

HMS Argyll was one of six Devonshire-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was assigned to the 1st Cruiser Squadron of the Channel Fleet upon completion and was transferred to the 5th Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet in 1909. Two years later, she was detached to escort the royal yacht during King George V's trip to British India. Argyll was assigned to the 3rd Cruiser Squadron of the reserve Second Fleet in 1913.

Upon mobilisation in mid-1914 her squadron was assigned to the Grand Fleet; Argyll did not see combat before she ran aground and was wrecked in October 1915. Her crew were rescued without loss and the wreck was later salvaged before it was demolished. Nonetheless, it remains diveable.

Argyll was designed to displace 10,850 long tons (11,020 t). The ship had an overall length of 473 feet 6 inches (144.3 m), a beam of 68 feet 6 inches (20.9 m) and a deep draught of 24 feet (7.3 m). She was powered by two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, which produced a total of 21,000 indicated horsepower (16,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). The engines were powered by sixteen Babcock & Wilcox and six cylindrical boilers. Argyll was the only ship of the class not to exceed 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) during her sea trials. She carried a maximum of 1,033 long tons (1,050 t) of coal and her complement consisted of 610 officers and enlisted men.