Photo: BAE Systems
If you are familiar with Greek mythology, or you've at least seen 2004's Troy movie, then the name Agamemnon might ring a bell or two. Not the most impressive of Greek kings, Agamemnon ruled over Mycenae and took point as the leader of the Greek army during the Trojan War depicted in Homer's Illiad.
I say not the most impressive because the character was the only one responsible for many of the tragedies that occurred in and around the mythical ancient city of Troy. Thus not exactly a figure one could use for inspiration or as an example.
Yet that's exactly what the British Royal Navy did this week, when it settled on the name for the sixth Astute-class nuclear submarine, currently being assembled by BAE Systems at its facility in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The Astute class is a family of undersea vessels meant to give the Brits an edge in case things turn bad for our world and some serious undercover punch needs to be delivered in the faces of whatever enemies try to challenge them.
No less than seven such submarines have been ordered by the Royal Navy, with five of them already completed. They all carry names that have nothing to do with mythology or the Greeks: HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, and HMS Anson.
As you can see, all these names start with an "a," and that’s probably one of the reasons that prompted British officials to go with the rather strange name for a nuclear submarine. The seventh build in the family, just so you know, will be called the HMS Agincourt.
I have to admit, though, that of the entire bunch of seven subs, the HMS Agamemnon does seem to have the most powerful name. And for good reasons, as the thing packs some incredible technology.
Like all other Astute subs, the Agamemnon is 97 meters long (318 feet) and weighs a staggering 7,400 tons. It can carry a complement of 98 people, who can stay at sea for virtually endless periods of time, whose length is only limited (at about 90 days at sea) by the need to supply the ship with food and water.
That's because, technically speaking, the sub never needs to come to port to refuel. The nuclear reactor it packs makes sure of that.
The Agamemnon, the sixth British navy ship to wear the name, was christened not with the usual bottle of sparkling wine, champagne, brandy, or scotch smashing against its hull, but with a bottle of beer sourced from the Ulverston Brewing Company, which is also located in Cumbria.
The submarine is expected to launch later this year ahead of its commissioning into the Royal Navy. As for the seventh in the family, the Agincourt, that one is supposed to be ready sometime in 2026, completing the lineup of Britain's most modern nuclear subs.
Yet that's exactly what the British Royal Navy did this week, when it settled on the name for the sixth Astute-class nuclear submarine, currently being assembled by BAE Systems at its facility in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The Astute class is a family of undersea vessels meant to give the Brits an edge in case things turn bad for our world and some serious undercover punch needs to be delivered in the faces of whatever enemies try to challenge them.
No less than seven such submarines have been ordered by the Royal Navy, with five of them already completed. They all carry names that have nothing to do with mythology or the Greeks: HMS Astute, HMS Ambush, HMS Artful, HMS Audacious, and HMS Anson.
As you can see, all these names start with an "a," and that’s probably one of the reasons that prompted British officials to go with the rather strange name for a nuclear submarine. The seventh build in the family, just so you know, will be called the HMS Agincourt.
I have to admit, though, that of the entire bunch of seven subs, the HMS Agamemnon does seem to have the most powerful name. And for good reasons, as the thing packs some incredible technology.
Like all other Astute subs, the Agamemnon is 97 meters long (318 feet) and weighs a staggering 7,400 tons. It can carry a complement of 98 people, who can stay at sea for virtually endless periods of time, whose length is only limited (at about 90 days at sea) by the need to supply the ship with food and water.
That's because, technically speaking, the sub never needs to come to port to refuel. The nuclear reactor it packs makes sure of that.
The Agamemnon, the sixth British navy ship to wear the name, was christened not with the usual bottle of sparkling wine, champagne, brandy, or scotch smashing against its hull, but with a bottle of beer sourced from the Ulverston Brewing Company, which is also located in Cumbria.
The submarine is expected to launch later this year ahead of its commissioning into the Royal Navy. As for the seventh in the family, the Agincourt, that one is supposed to be ready sometime in 2026, completing the lineup of Britain's most modern nuclear subs.
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