Скачать или смотреть HMS Agincourt: The Battleship With Too Many Guns

In today’s video, we dive into one of the most unusual and over-gunned battleships in naval history — HMS Agincourt. With an absurd total of fourteen 12-inch guns mounted in seven twin turrets, she holds the record for the most heavy naval guns ever fitted to a battleship. But her firepower is only part of what makes her story so fascinating.

Agincourt’s life began not in service to Britain, but as a product of the South American dreadnought race. She was originally ordered by Brazil as Rio de Janeiro, intended to outmatch the battleships of Argentina and Chile. The Brazilian Navy wanted cutting-edge firepower, and the design was radically ambitious. However, political instability and financial strain led Brazil to cancel the order.

The ship was then sold to the Ottoman Empire and renamed Sultan Osman I. The Ottomans, desperate to modernize their fleet and counter Greek and Russian naval buildup, raised funds through donations and extreme austerity — Turkish citizens even sold their hair to help pay for the ship.

Yet just days before delivery, as tensions in Europe escalated into World War I, Winston Churchill ordered the seizure of both Sultan Osman I and her sister ship Reshadieh. Ottoman sailors had already arrived to take possession, but British troops boarded with fixed bayonets and took control. This act deeply angered the Ottoman public and government, arguably pushing them toward alliance with Germany.

Now rechristened HMS Agincourt, the ship entered service with the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet. Though outdated by British standards — her 12-inch guns and armor were already falling behind newer designs — she still made a strong impression. Nicknamed The Gin Palace by her crew, her seven turrets were affectionately named after the days of the week.

She served at the Battle of Jutland, where she fired several salvoes, but likely scored no hits. Despite limited combat success, her silhouette and sheer firepower earned her a legendary status. After the war, she was briefly retained for experimental use and was even considered for conversion into a floating base for potential operations in the Pacific.

Ultimately, she was sold for scrap in 1922 to comply with the Washington Naval Treaty. To fulfill the treaty’s terms, she was cut in half within 24 hours — an undignified but fittingly strange end for such a peculiar ship.

From a Brazilian dream to an Ottoman pride to a British war asset, HMS Agincourt was a battleship like no other. Her story is a testament to the global nature of naval politics, the unpredictability of war, and the extremes nations once went to for maritime supremacy.

Sources/Other Reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Castles-Steel-...

https://www.amazon.com/British-Battle...

https://www.amazon.com/Jutland-1916-C...

https://www.amazon.com/British-Battle...

https://www.amazon.com/Windfall-Battl...

https://www.amazon.com/Guns-August-Pu...

https://www.amazon.com/World-Crisis-C...

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