His Majesty King Charles III has officially welcomed the Royal Navy’s latest attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.
The nuclear-powered vessel, named after the ancient Greek king, becomes the sixth of seven Astute-class submarines commissioned into service. Weighing 7,400 tonnes and stretching 97 metres in length, HMS Agamemnon will now undergo a series of tests and sea trials before entering full service.
The event also marked another milestone for Britain’s submarine programme. Earlier in the day, Defence Secretary John Healey cut the first steel for HMS King George VI, the fourth and final Dreadnought-class submarine. The new fleet is set to replace the Vanguard-class submarines from the early 2030s, ensuring the continuation of the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent.
Steve Timms, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Submarines business, said the ceremonies highlighted the scale of progress in Barrow: “Cutting steel on the fourth Dreadnought submarine demonstrates the significant progress we’ve made on the programme, whilst the sixth Astute-class boat, HMS Agamemnon, joins the long and distinguished list of Barrow-built vessels to be commissioned into the Royal Navy.”
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key praised the workforce behind the construction: “These milestones mark the Royal Navy’s enduring commitment to safeguarding our nation. The dedication, skill, and innovation of those at Barrow ensure the Navy remains at the forefront of global maritime defence.”
In recognition of the town’s 120-year history at the heart of UK submarine construction, the King also visited Barrow Town Hall to bestow Royal Port status on Barrow.
For more articles like this, visit our Leadership channel
