HMS Agamemnon (S123)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Agamemnon.

HMS Agamemnon is the sixth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy and is currently under construction. She will be the sixth vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name, after the legendary Greek king Agamemnon.

History
United Kingdom
Name	Agamemnon
Namesake	Agamemnon
Ordered	March 2010
Builder	BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Cost	£1.533B (budget)[1]
Laid down	18 July 2013
Launched	3 October 2024[2]
Christened	22 April 2024[3]
In service	Projected late 2025/early 2026[4][5][6][7][8]
Identification	Pennant number: S123
Status	Pre-sea trial testing
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General characteristics
Class & type	Astute-class fleet submarine
Displacement	Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (6,900 to 7,300 long tons)[9][10] Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,700 long tons)[9][10]
Length	97 m (318 ft 3 in)[9][10]
Beam	11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[9][10]
Draught	10 m (32 ft 10 in)[9][10]
Propulsion	Rolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kW (800 hp) diesel generators
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[9][10]
Range	Unlimited[11]
Endurance	90 days[11]
Test depth	Over 300 m (980 ft)
Complement	98 (capacity for 109)[9]
Sensors & processing systems	Thales Sonar 2076 Atlas DESO 25 echosounder 2 × Thales CM010 optronic masts Raytheon Successor IFF
Armament	6 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes with stowage for up to 38 weapons:[12] Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes

On 25 March 2010, BAE Systems were contracted by the government to begin construction on boats 5 and 6 (Anson and Agamemnon), being given a £300 million contract for the "initial build" of boat 5 and "long lead procurement activities" for boat 6.^[13] Initial construction work was begun on boat 6 late in 2010 and is ongoing as of 2011.^[14] On 15 September 2011 it was announced that boat 5 was to be named Anson; it had previously been stated that boat 5 (as S123) would be Agamemnon and boat 6 Anson, and it is now believed that the Agamemnon name will be transferred to boat 6.^{[citation needed]}

The keel was laid on 18 July 2013 by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne.^[15]

Agamemnon's electric switchboards were powered up, for the first time, 1 October 2020, making the boat go "live".^[16] On 2 October 2024, Agamemnon was rolled out of the build hall and was launched the next day.^[17] The commissioning had been expected in late 2025,^[18] though her actual in-service date may have slipped into 2026.^[19]

Official naming ceremony of HMS Agamemnon.

Design

Propulsion

Agamemnon's nuclear reactor will not need to be refueled during the boat's 25-year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.

Weapons

Agamemnon will have provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.^[20] The submarine will be capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)^[21] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.