HMS Agamemnon (S123)

HMS Agamemnon is the sixth of the Astute Class nuclear-powered fleet submarines. Together with her sister vessels, she will be one of the most advanced submarines ever constructed.

Role

HMS Agamemnon is still under construction, but once completed she will carry out a number of important roles, from covert surveillance to tactical strike. Her weaponry will include the Spearfish heavyweight torpedo and the fearsome Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missile, which has a range of some 1,000 miles.

Named for the ancient Greek king Agamemnon, this Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine will more than live up to her legendary namesake.

Astute class

Unit history

1781

The First Agamemnon part 1

The first was a 3rd Rate 64-gun ship of the line; Copenhagen and Trafalgar among her battle honours. Launched on 10 April 1781, and was commanded 1793-96 by Nelson, who was fond of the ship.

1809

The First Agamemnon part 2

She ended her days in the mouth of the River Plate in South America; when she grounded on an uncharted shoal in June 1809 she was in such poor condition that she could not be saved.

1852

The Second Agamemnon

Next up was a 2nd rate screwship, thought to be the first British battleship designed from scratch to be powered by steam. She was launched on 22 May 1852. She was sold in 1870.

1879

The Third Agamemnon

The third Agamemnon was an ironclad battleship launched on 17 September 1879. She served in the Far East and the Mediterranean, also spending time as a slave-chaser off Zanzibar.

1906

The Fourth Agamemnon - World War 1

At the start of the 20th century, Agamemnon was a pre-Dreadnought battleship, launched on 23 June 1906. She served in the Channel and Mediterranean during World War 1.

1939

The Fifth Agamemnon

The most recent HMS Agamemnon was a minelayer requisitioned in December 1939 that took part in operations in the Northwest Approaches as part of 1st Minelaying Squadron.

Join the Submarine Service

Life under the ocean isn’t for the faint-hearted. You’ll be pushed to your limits, but you’ll be rewarded for it too.