HMS Agamemnon begins sea trials after 13 years of construction

The HMS Agamemnon, a new £1.65 billion Astute Class nuclear-powered attack submarine, has departed the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness to begin sea trials. The 97-metre, 7,400-tonne vessel is the sixth of seven Astute Class submarines being constructed by BAE Systems.

The construction process for the submarine lasted 13 years. Originally commissioned in 2013, the Ministry of Defence had expected the vessel to be active by 2022. Following its departure from the shipyard, the submarine traversed the dock system and the Walney Channel before entering the Irish Sea.

Upon completion of its sea trials, the HMS Agamemnon will join the Royal Navy's existing Astute Class fleet, which includes HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, and HMS Anson. First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, stated that the vessel will play a central role in UK security and NATO's collective defence.