HMS Agamemnon (S124)
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS Agamemnon |
| Ordered: | March 2010 |
| Builder: | BAE Systems Submarine Solutions |
| Laid down: | 18 July 2013 |
| Identification: | Pennant number: S124 |
| Status: | Under construction |
| Badge: |
 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Astute-class submarine |
| Displacement: | 7,400 tonnes, submerged[1] |
| Length: | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Beam: | 11.3 m (37 ft) |
| Draught: | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Propulsion: | Rolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators |
| Speed: | Up to 30 knots (56 km/h), submerged[1] |
| Range: | Only limited by food and maintenance requirements. |
| Complement: | 98 (capacity for 109) |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
|
| Armament: | 6 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes with stowage for up to 38 weapons:[2] |
HMS Agamemnon is the sixth Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine of the Royal Navy and is currently under construction. She will be the sixth vessel of the Royal Navy to bear the name, after the legendary Greek king Agamemnon.
On 25 March 2010, BAE Systems were given the go-ahead by the government to begin construction on boats 5 and 6 (Anson and Agamemnon), being given a £300 million contract for the "initial build" of boat 5 and "long lead procurement activities" for boat 6.[3] Initial construction work was begun on boat 6 late in 2010 and is ongoing as of 2011.[4] On 15 September 2011 it was announced that boat 5 was to be named Anson; it had previously been stated that boat 5 would be Agamemnon and boat 6 Anson, and it is now believed that the Agamemnon name will be transferred to boat 6.
Her keel was 'laid' on 18 July 2013, when the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne, unveiled the "Agamemnon Keel Unit".[5]
Design
Nuclear power
Agamemnon's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25-year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.
Weapons
Agamemnon will have provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes:[6]
- Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles - range of 1,240 miles (2,000 kilometres)
- Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Astute Class". Royal Navy. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
- ↑ "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". MoD. 27 Aug 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ↑ North West Evening Mail £300 million order to boost shipyard
- ↑ MoD Second Astute Class Submarine Officially Named
- ↑ http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2013/July/18/130718-Newest-Attack-Submarine
- ↑ Alien submarine breaks technical barriers BBC News. (7 May 2007).
External links
- Royal Navy HMS Agamemnon (royalnavy.mod.uk)
- Astute Class (navy-matters.beedall.com)
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