HMS Agamemnon Completes First Dive as UK’s Newest Nuclear Attack Submarine Nears Active Service

The Royal Navy’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, has successfully completed its first submergence during a three-day “trim dive” at the Devonshire Dock, Barrow-in-Furness according to UK Defence Journal on October 13.

This milestone was designed to validate the vessel’s stability, buoyancy control, watertight integrity, and internal systems before Agamemnon departs for Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde to join active service. 

Key details & significance

• HMS Agamemnon displaces about 7,400 tonnes. 

• It is the sixth submarine in the Astute-class series built by BAE Systems; 

• In his remarks, Pete Tumelty, Astute Programme Director at BAE Systems, said: “This trim dive is the culmination of months of hard work … we’re incredibly proud of the contribution we’re making to the nation’s security …” ;

• Commander David “Bing” Crosby, the submarine’s commanding officer, emphasized that this test phase “enables us to set the boat’s internal weight, prove her water-tight integrity, test sensors and put some of our systems through their paces ahead of sailing for the first time.” 

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Category

War in Ukraine

How Russia Is Preparing for War in the Arctic

Mar 11, 2025 18:31

The Astute-class is the Royal Navy’s current backbone of attack submarine capability.  However, the UK has already laid out ambitious plans to expand this capability: under its Strategic Defense Review, the government intends to build up to 12 new attack submarines under the SSN-AUKUS project. 

These new submarines are intended to strengthen the UK’s undersea warfare capacity in an era of renewed maritime competition and growing technological threats. 

On the other hand Russia is steadily building what one Ukrainian intelligence report terms an “Arctic military empire,” leveraging satellites, drone networks, and expanded sea routes, according to UNITED24 Media. 

Despite economic strain from its prolonged war in Ukraine, the Kremlin is pressing ahead with infrastructure and resource extraction projects in the High North under the cover of scientific research. 

Moscow now commands the world’s largest icebreaker fleet and is the only nation operating nuclear-powered icebreakers, securing year-round naval mobility through the Northern Sea Route. 

Earlier, it was reported that the UK announced a $20 billion overhaul of its nuclear forces, including plans to build up to 12 submarines under the AUKUS partnership to bolster deterrence and readiness.

Agamemnon was officially commissioned by King Charles III before this diving operation.

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