Agamemnon: the Royal Navy’s latest submarine is named

Telegraph reporters
The Astute-class submarine named Agamemnon will be launched later this year
The Astute-class submarine will be launched later this year - BAE Systems / SWNS

The Royal Navy’s latest Astute-class submarine has been officially named at BAE Systems’ submarines site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Agamemnon – named after the ancient Greek king – is the sixth of seven Astute submarines being built by the company.

The vessel is set to be launched later this year, ahead of being commissioned into the Royal Navy.

At 97 metres long and weighing 7,400 tons, advanced nuclear technology means the Astute-class submarines never need to be refuelled. They can manufacture their own oxygen and fresh water from the ocean and are able to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing.

The submarine is 97 metres long and weighs 7,400 tons
The submarine is 97 metres long and weighs 7,400 tons - BAE Systems, / SWNS

Equipped with world-leading sensors, the Astute-class carry both Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles (TLAM) and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

Monday’s ceremony was attended by James Cartlidge, the Minister for Defence Procurement, and included an address by the boat’s Lady Sponsor, Lady SJ Sedwill, the wife of Lord Mark Sedwill, the former UK national security adviser.

Steve Timms, managing director at 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.”

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