HMS Agamemnon was originally the Blue Funnel Line refrigerated cargo ship Agamemnon. She was built in 1929, traded between the UK and the Far East, and was scrapped in 1963. During the Second World War she was converted into an auxiliary minelayer in 1940, and then into an amenities ship in 1943.
She was the third of four Blue Funnel Line ships to be named after Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae during the Trojan War. She was also the fifth of six Royal Navy ships to be called Agamemnon.
Between 1929 and 1931 Blue Funnel Line had a class of five cargo ships built to the same design by four different UK shipyards. Agamemnon was the first of the five. Workman, Clark and Company built her in Belfast as yard number 503. She was launched on 25 April 1929, and completed that September.[1]
Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company built in Dundee, launching her in August 1929 and completing her that September.[2] R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company built in Hebburn, launching her in July 1930 and completing her that December.[3] Caledon in Dundee also built Memnon, launching her on 21 October 1930 and completing her in January 1931.[4] Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company built Ajax at Greenock, launching her in December 1930 and completing her in April 1931.[5]
Agamemnons registered length was, her beam was and her depth was . Her tonnages were, and .
Agamemnon was a twin-screw motor ship. She had two eight-cylinder Burmeister & Wain four-stroke single-acting diesel engines. Between them, her twin engines were rated at 1,300 NHP. The engines were supercharged on the Büchi and Rateau systems, which increased their bhp from 6,600 to 8,600. This gave Agamemnon a speed of 16kn.
Blue Funnel Line registered Agamemnon at Liverpool. Her UK official number was 161124, and until 1933 her code letters were LFCN. By 1930 she also had the wireless telegraph call sign GNYL.
Agamemnons navigation equipment included wireless direction finding. By 1936 she was equipped also with an echo sounding device.
On 30 December 1939 the Admiralty requisitioned Agamemnon. She was converted into an auxiliary minelayer, and was commissioned in August or September 1940[6] with the pennant number M10. She was armed with three QF 4-inch naval gun Mk V guns, two QF 2-pounder naval guns, four Oerlikon 20 mm cannons and four Vickers .50 machine guns.
On 18 October 1940 she joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh (port ZA), along with four other auxiliary minesweepers, including her sister ship Menestheus, plus an escort of Royal Navy destroyers.[6]
From Mid-October 1940, Agamemnon and other members of the 1st Minelaying Squadron laid mines in the Northern Barrage. In February 1941 Menestheus was damaged by a drifting British mine, and Agamemnon towed her back to Kyle of Lochalsh. From November 1942 until March 1943 she was refitted at a commercial shipyard on the River Thames. The 1st Minelaying Squadron completed laying the Northern Barrage in late September 1943, and that was disbanded that October.[6]
In November 1944 Agamemnon sailed to Vancouver, British Columbia for conversion into an amenities ship for the British Pacific Fleet.[6] Conversion included installation of a cinema and canteen, to be staffed by mercantile crews of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. When Japan surrendered in August 1945 the conversion was still incomplete, so the work was abandoned.[6]
Most sources assert that the Admiralty returned Agamemnon to her owners in 1946,[1] but one suggests that it was in April 1947.[6] Either way, she resumed Blue Funnel Line merchant service. By 1952 her navigation equipment included a gyrocompass, and by 1959 it included radar.
Agamemnon arrived in Hong Kong on 22 March 1963 to be scrapped.[1]