King Charles III Commissions HMS Agamemnon
King Charles III officially commissioned the UK’s newest attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon in a ceremony at the BAE Systems submarine yard in Barrow-in-Furness on 22 September. The event was attended by about 500 guests – including defense officials, politicians, industry leaders and the submarine’s crew – as the new nuclear-powered attack submarine formally joined the Royal Navy fleet. In a break with naval tradition the King personally read the commissioning warrant, declaring Agamemnon ready for service. Agamemnon’s sponsor, Lady Sarah Jane Sedwill, praised the boat’s crew, saying the cutting-edge submarine will provide “silent security to defend our nation, allies and interests for many decades to come.”
HMS Agamemnon (pennant S123) was built at an estimated cost of $2 billion and is the sixth of seven Astute-class hunter-killer submarines being delivered to the Royal Navy. The 7,400-tonne vessel is about 97 m long and is powered by a Rolls-Royce PWR2 nuclear reactor driving a pump-jet propulsor. This gives it essentially unlimited range at sea (limited mainly by food and maintenance). The submarine has six 533mm torpedo tubes and can carry around 38 weapons. These typically include the heavyweight Spearfish torpedo and Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles (with a range of roughly 1,000 miles). The complex construction took over 12 years – steel was first cut in 2013 and the sub was named in 2024 – reflecting the advanced technology on board.
Once fully equipped, Agamemnon will sail to its home port at HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane) in Scotland to join its five sister Astute submarines. The boat is optimized for stealthy multi-mission operations. It will conduct covert surveillance and protect underwater infrastructure. It can act as both the “sword and shield” of the fleet – defending the UK’s nuclear deterrent, carrier task forces and sea lanes, while deterring or attacking enemy submarines, ships or land targets. Built with world-leading sensors and quiet-running systems, Agamemnon’s commander, Commander David Crosby, noted that the submarine has “a formidable capability, vital to protecting the United Kingdom’s security interests.”
Royal Navy leaders emphasized Agamemnon’s strategic importance. First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins said the new submarine will be “pivotal to our national security” in a Royal Navy “ready to fight and able to win – respected by allies, feared by enemies.” He noted that commissioning HMS Agamemnon (and simultaneously cutting steel on the new Dreadnought-class boat HMS King George VI) marked “significant milestones” in the service’s commitment to national defence. The submarine will soon commence sea trials and then enter full operational service, significantly enhancing the Royal Navy’s capabilities.