HMS Agincourt (S125)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Agincourt.

HMS Ambush (S120), another Astute-class submarine, during sea trials off the coast of Scotland
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Agincourt
NamesakeBattle of Agincourt
BuilderBAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Cost£1.640B (budget)[1]
Laid down14 May 2018[2]
In serviceProjected late 2026[3]
IdentificationPennant number: S125
StatusUnder construction[4]
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeAstute-class fleet submarine
Displacement
  • Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (6,900 to 7,300 long tons; 7,700 to 8,200 short tons)[5][6]
  • Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,300 to 7,700 long tons; 8,200 to 8,600 short tons)[5][6]
Length97 m (318 ft 3 in)[5][6]
Beam11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[5][6]
Draught10 m (32 ft 10 in)[5][6]
PropulsionRolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[5][6]
RangeUnlimited[7]
Endurance90 days[7]
Test depthOver 300 m (980 ft)
Complement98 (capacity for 109)[5]
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Agincourt (also known as Astute Boat 7) is an Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine under construction for the Royal Navy and the seventh in her class. The boat's name was confirmed in May 2018, having previously held the in-work name of Ajax.[9]

The confirmation for the seventh and final Astute-class boat was given in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, although the order was not placed until 2018.[10]

On 11 December 2012 the British government announced that long-lead items had been ordered for boats 6 and 7.[11]

On 6 March 2018 the Defence Procurement minister Guto Bebb confirmed that the MoD had gained Treasury approval to sign a contract for Astute Boat 7,[12] after a leaked Navy document had suggested it might not be procured as a cost-saving measure.[13] In May 2018 it was reported that construction of Boat Seven had begun.[14] She has been projected as being ready for service by early 2026 and will be based at Faslane (HMNB Clyde).[2][15][3]

  1. ^ "Ministry of Defence Major Projects Report 2015 and the Equipment Plan 2015 to 2025" (PDF). National Audit Office. 22 October 2015. p. 43.
  2. ^ a b "HMS Agincourt". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "The Royal Navy's Astute class submarines: Part 1 – development and delivery". Navy Lookout. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  4. ^ "£300M facilities investment will transform UK submarine building". BAE Systems. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-1-904459552.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Astute-class attack submarines". Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Astute class submarines". BAE Systems. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. ^ "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". Ministry of Defence. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Royal Navy nuclear submarines to get £2.5bn boost". BBC News. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Second Astute Class submarine officially named". UK Ministry of Defence. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  11. ^ "UK: BAE Systems Secures $1.92 Bln Submarine Deal". NavalToday.com. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Contingent Liability: Written statement - HCWS516". House of Commons. 6 March 2018.
  13. ^ Chapples, Natalie (6 March 2018). "MoD announces it will sign a contract for Astute boat seven". The Mail.
  14. ^ Maundrill, Beth (1 May 2018). "Seventh Astute class submarine build underway". Shephard Media. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  15. ^ "HMS Audacious". theyworkforyou.com.