King Charles has officially commissioned the latest addition to the British Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. On October 30, 2023, he visited the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to read the commissioning warrant at a formal ceremony marking the entry of HMS Agamemnon into operational service.
HMS Agamemnon, often referred to as “Awesome Aggie,” weighs 7,400 tonnes and measures 97 metres in length—equivalent to the length of four buses. This state-of-the-art submarine is designed to protect the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent, aircraft carrier strike groups, and critical undersea infrastructure. Notably, it has the capability to strike land targets located up to 1,609 kilometres away, serve as a launch pad for operations conducted by Royal Marines Commandos, and gather intelligence through advanced sensors.
The commissioning ceremony highlighted the importance of HMS Agamemnon as the sixth of seven Astute-class Fleet submarines built for the Royal Navy. Following the ceremony, further tests are expected to take place on site before the submarine embarks on its sea trials, ultimately leading to its full operational status.
Celebrating Contributions and Future Plans
During the event, King Charles engaged with BAE employees involved in the construction of the submarine, along with the vessel’s serving personnel and their families. Defence Secretary John Healey, who attended the ceremony, praised the achievement, stating, “This is truly a remarkable manufacturing feat to take a piece of steel and to forge it into one of the most technologically advanced machines anywhere in the world.”
Earlier on the same day, Healey conducted a steel-cutting ceremony for King George VI, the final Dreadnought-class submarine set to enter service in the early 2030s. The Dreadnought submarines are intended to replace the Vanguard-class submarines, which currently provide the continuous at-sea deterrent for the Royal Navy.
As part of his visit, King Charles also conferred royal port status upon Barrow Town Hall, recognizing the town’s 120-year history as a center for submarine construction in the UK.
AUKUS Agreement and International Partnerships
The commissioning of HMS Agamemnon comes at a time when Britain and Australia are collaborating with the United States under the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement. This partnership, formed in 2021 to address rising military concerns in the Asia-Pacific region, aims to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered attack submarines by the 2040s. This initiative underscores the strategic importance of international alliances in modern defense.
The commissioning of HMS Agamemnon not only marks a significant milestone for the Royal Navy but also highlights the ongoing commitment to advancing military capabilities in a rapidly changing global landscape.
