A stunning timelapse video has been released, showcasing the launch of HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy’s latest Astute-class nuclear submarine.

The video captures the moment the 7,400-tonne submarine was rolled out of the Devonshire Dock Hall at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, before being lowered into the water for the first time.

HMS Agamemnon, named after the legendary Greek king, is the sixth of seven Astute-class submarines, all constructed at the historic Barrow facility, the hub of UK submarine manufacturing. Measuring 97 meters in length, the nuclear-powered submarine now enters the testing and commissioning phase, a rigorous process that precedes sea trials with the Royal Navy.

Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE Systems Submarines, commented on the milestone: “The design and build of a nuclear-powered submarine is incredibly complex and a truly national endeavour. I pay tribute to the thousands of highly-skilled people who have helped get Agamemnon to this stage.”

Commander David ‘Bing’ Crosby, HMS Agamemnon’s Commanding Officer, echoed this sentiment, praising the dedication of the workforce: “There is still plenty to do until we exit Agamemnon from Barrow, but the entire workforce should be full of pride for what they have achieved so far.”

HMS Agamemnon will carry up to 38 weapons in six 21-inch torpedo tubes, including Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes. The Tomahawk missiles have a range of up to 1,000 miles, while the Spearfish torpedoes are designed to engage submarines and surface ships.

The submarine is equipped with advanced technology for detection and navigation, including the Thales Sonar 2076 system and two Thales CM010 optronic masts, which replace traditional periscopes.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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24 COMMENTS

    • Agreed, thankfully there’s a nice long list of decent ones that we can dust off going forward- as long as the budget begins to go up again as promised, so we can actually afford T32s and T83s etc…

  3. Hopefully tests go well apart from that welcome to the fleet.

    Question does anyone know if RR PWR II line is still available.

    Reason for question.

    HMS Astute will be 30 years old if the SSN-AUKUS timeline does not slip, in all reality 35-40 years old as the design for the new sub is no where near finished. I am not even sure if the RN/RAN have the detailed requirements yet. Also it looks like they will be equipped with Virginia Payload Modules. For me that just seems like many new things on a new sub. New reactor, new command system, new sonar, new weapons system. etc. If we look at the Astute class, after the signing of the contract it took about five years for the design work and another nine years to build. Using the same time line it means that the contract for the SSN-AUKUS need to be signed in 2025-26 for the first boat to be in the water by the end of the 2030s. However with the new boats being completly new and to fulfill the requirements of two nations with diffrent requirements (Pacific/Atlantic) will take more time. An example would be that the RN SSNs would mostly work in the GIUK Gap- North to the Artic, Aussie boats probably between the First and Second Island chain. Aussie boats would need a transit time at 10 knots of about 14 days there and 14 back. With 60-90 days on station plus some reserve that would meen enough food/stores for 120-150 days (28 days transit+60 days on station or 28 days+90 days + 30 day reserve). RN boats operating around Spitzberg would need 8 days out and 8 days back at 10 knots plus 60-90 days on station so thats 90 days-120 days food/stores. As can be seen the Aussies need either A bigger subs to cary more stores/ food etc, or more subs to keep one on station for the same period as RN subs or a faster transit speed. Not always a good idea speed is noise, noise is an enemy you get the idea. Also a bigger sub or longer periods on station requires a bigger crew. A bigger crew then means even more food and stores see where this starts to go, There is a reason that 90 days on operations is the standard. I can also see the RAN using the US Naval Base Guam as its forward operating base, this would resolve some of the issues of distance, time, stores.

    So if the PWR II is still available then why don’t we build four new Astutes with four VPMs per boat to run with the SSBN Dreadnought subs until the new SSN-AUKUS production run is ready. They could possibly also be equipped with the new combat command centre. This could resolve a few issues, RN SSN numbers, keep SSN lines open whilst the new sub designs are being finished, replace the early Astutes and test both in construction and operation the some of the new euipment. These stretched Astutes would become the carrier group escort subs.

    Speaking about sub orders and timelines, does anyone know if we have ordered HMS King George VI yet. I know the reactor and missile tubes are ordered but the sub?

    • PWR II production has ceased PWR III is now being produced and PWR II has regulatory issues that were solved in PWRIII.

      SSN A won’t be getting the Virginia Payload module. It’s too big, other Virginia class have VLS without the payload module. SSN A will be similar.

    • ABC has covered this many times. PWRII has ended and Dreadnaught is ramping up.
      Further Astutes are not possible.

    • The very last PWR2 was produced for HMS Agincourt, there are no more and non can be produced as all capacity is now focussed on PWR3 and has been for most of the last decade. FYI just like the PWR2 was larger than the PWR1, the PWR3 is larger than the PWR2 and will not fit inside an Astute hull.
      That is one very good reason for not producing more Astutes, but there are numerous other ones. The time for that decision was nearly 14 years ago and tech has moved on so why would anyone want to build an older generation of boats when the next generation is in hand.
      Bottom line is Barrow is full to capacity finishing the last Astute and building Dreadnoughts at an accelerated pace. However BAe at Barrow, SFM and RR here in Derby are all busily expanding to increase capacity ready for SSN(A).
      FYI there is no SSN line as such, it’s more like a series of pipelines which are used to produce a class of SSBNs then followed by SSN’s and then repeat. The SSBN class is usually the Generational change over in tech, hence Vanguard / Astute (PWR2, optronics etc etc) now being followed by Dreadnought / SSN(A) (PWR3).

      As for orders the exact timescales for long lead items isn’t in the public domain for obvious reasons. But weird as it sounds the most important parts are ordered years in advance of a boat being officially ordered.

    • I think your point about the differing endurance times is rather moot.

      Firstly, the RN has had to run increasingly long duration deterrent patrols for because of delays in the maintenance and refit schedules (that will hopefully soon be resolved). The most recent patrol was reported as lasting 6 months! Whilst this is a different mission to that carried out by the SSN fleet, the drivers behind this practice could be repeated due to loss of infrastructure for whatever reason.

      Secondly, the UK has committed to supporting Australia and the US in the Pacific by basing an Astute class boat in Australia for extended periods. If the current geopolitical situation continues to deteriorate, and I see no reason why it shouldn’t, then I would foresee those arrangements being carried into the SSN A boat era. So your RAN endurance numbers would be applicable to the RN as well.

      In short, the RN will happly accept boats with improved endurance. Why cut it back from the RAN requirements? It would increase costs and deliver a less capable boat.

      As Jim states the PWR II reactor is out of production but more importantly the space vacated by Agamemnon is going to be filled with a Dreadnaught class boat sooner than many realise. Three of the Dreadnaught boats are various stages of construction although I cannot recall if it is the first or second boat that will take the place of Agamemnon.

      Cheers CR

      • I think by now even an Elf living in Lapland knows that the SSN(A) will be bigger than the Astutes but with a similar complement. The reasons are driven partly by equipment such as VLS for TLAM and the size of the PWR3 which requires a larger pressure hull (a La Dreadnought). But also the fact that the boats need more crew space than was acceptable for the Astutes. Part of that is down to what modern crews expect and the need for properly designed separate crew quarters for female crew.
        That all suggests a longer hull and the simple fact is that a byproduct of that is extra storage space. Lots of space for Cheesy Hammy Eggy ingredients.

        • Agreed.

          I would also suggest that if the RN continues to undertake longer patrols and extends them to the SSN fleet, then improved conditions for the crew would potentially have positive benefits with regards to stress and wellbeing.

          With the Dreadnoughts being about 17,200 tons (Wikipedia) and the Astutes being around 7,400 tons I guess the AUKUS A boats could be in the 8,000 to 11,000 ton range, which is also in line with the development path of the Virginia class (Block V – 10,200 tons). If so that’s a big SSN, perhaps there will be room for something smaller in the fleet as well given our geography?

          By the way, the Dreadnought SSN’s are pretty much the same displacement as HMS Dreadnought of 1906 which was about 17,500 tons… Quite the coincidence.

          Cheers CR

  7. No one seems to have made any comment about the actual “launch”, the entire process is complete “Tour de force” of engineering.
    And our facilities are second to none.

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