Royal Navy names latest submarine after ancient Greek king Agamemnon

• She was named yesterday at BAE Systems’ Submarines site in Cumbria

The Royal Navy has named its latest 7,400-tonne submarine after the ancient Greek king Agamemnon in a nod to Lord Nelson’s favourite ship affectionately nicknamed ‘Eggs and Bacon’.

At 97metres long, the sixth Astute Class submarine is due to be launched later this year, ahead of being commissioned into the Royal Navy.

She was officially named yesterday at BAE Systems’ Submarines site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

HMS Agamemnon was blessed and christened, with a bottle of beer from the local Ulverston Brewing Company smashed against her hull.

HMS Agamemnon (pictured) was officially named yesterday at BAE Systems’ Submarines site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria

The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Defence Procurement James Cartlidge (pictured, fifth left) who said the ship will play a ‘vital role in defence of the nation’

HMS Agamemnon was named after Lord Nelson’s favourite ship which he commanded from 1793 to 1796 and affectionately nicknamed Eggs and Bacon

Astute Class submarines features:

• Astute Class subs, like Agamemnon, have six 533mm torpedo tubes and the capacity to fire 36 missiles
• The latest missile on Astute Class subs is the Tomahawk IV which has a range of over 1,000 miles 
• The missile can be redirected mid-flight to another target 
• Agamemnon and other Astute’s also have a Spearfish torpedo that can reach targets of up to 14 miles away
• Astute class subs can reach speeds of 30 knotts  
• Source: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/equipment/submarine/astute-class

The Royal Navy has a growing fleet of Astute Class submarines and those in active service include HMS Astute, Artful, Ambush, Audacious and Anson – making Agamemnon the sixth addition.

A seventh sub, HMS Agincourt, is currently still under construction according to the Royal Navy website.

The vessel has advanced nuclear technology meaning it will never need to be refuelled.

This type of ship can manufacture its own oxygen and fresh water from the ocean and is able to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing.

Astute Class submarines are also equipped with world-leading sensors and carries both Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

Agamemnon, like other Royal Navy subs, has a reinforced bridge fin to break through ice.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, and included an address by the boat’s Lady Sponsor, Lady SJ Sedwill, the wife of former UK National Security Adviser Lord Mark Sedwill.

Steve Timms, Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Submarines business, said: ‘This is a key milestone for Agamemnon and the UK nuclear submarine programme, and contributes to the Government’s Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper, which underpinned the importance of our business and Barrow in delivering this national endeavour.

HMS Agamemnon was blessed and christened, with a bottle of beer from the local Ulverston Brewing Company smashed against her hull

Royal Navy crew attended the commissioning ceremony of the sixth addition to the fleet of submarines

The Royal Navy has a growing fleet of Astute Class submarines and those in active service include HMS Astute, Artful, Ambush, Audacious and Anson – making Agamemnon the sixth addition. Pictured: HMS Agamemnon

Astute Class submarines are equipped with world-leading sensors and carries both Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes

‘The Astute Class submarines are a vital component of our nation’s defence capabilities and we are fully focused on completing the remainder of Agamemnon’s programme so she can join her sister submarines in service with the Royal Navy.’

Submarine crews can spend up to 80 days on the ship before resurfacing and switching.

Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, said: ‘HMS Agamemnon will play a vital role in defence of the nation, providing our Armed Forces with a competitive edge for decades to come.

‘The Astute Class programme continues to support tens of thousands of jobs, with these submarines being a leading example of our commitment to investing in British sovereign capabilities.’

In 2022, HMS Anson joined the Royal Navy fleet decked with 38 Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk Block V cruise missiles, and was worth a whopping £1.3 billion.

Anson is 318 feet (97 metres) long and has space for all of its 98 crew to have their own bed and space.

In 2022, HMS Anson joined the Royal Navy fleet decked with 38 Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk Block V cruise missiles, and was worth a whopping £1.3 billion

Anson was named after Admiral George Anson, a Royal Navy officer from the 18th Century who made a four-year voyage around the world and led a victory against the French at Cape Finisterre in 1747

Anson is 318 feet (97 metres) long and has space for all of its 98 crew to have their own bed and space

The ship was named after Admiral George Anson, a Royal Navy officer from the 18th Century who made a four-year voyage around the world and led a victory against the French at Cape Finisterre in 1747.

At the naming ceremony in December 2020, a bottle of cider was smashed against the hull as the drink was favoured by Admiral Anson as a cure for scurvy.

The UK Government through the Ministry of Defence are working with BAE Systems to expand the Barrow shipyard in preparation for the future.

In addition to the Astute Class, construction is underway on the first three boats in the Dreadnought Class, which is the next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines that will replace the current Vanguard Class.

It took some 20 million hours of work over 11 years to prepare the 7,800-tonne boat for action, that is dubbed more complex than the International Space Station.

Who was Agamemnon?

• In Greek legend Agamemnon was the King of Mycenae or Argos
• He was involved in the Trojan war and was the commander in chief of the combined forces 
• Admiral Lord Nelson’s favourite ship – the first Agamemnon –  was launched in 1781 and he commanded her for three years from 1793 to 1796 
• She had 64 guns and saw the Battle of Copenhagen as well as the Battle of  Trafalgar
• The ship was affectionately known as ‘Eggs and Bacon’ by Lord Nelson
• Her service came to an end in 1809 on the River Plate in South America 

Sources: Britannica and Royal Navy

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