HMS Agamemnon, the latest addition to the Royal Navy’s submarine flotilla on the Clyde, has touched base exactly 125 years to the day of the launch of the first submarine, Holland 1.
The Agamemnon is the sixth of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class hunter-killer submarines and is part of the largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines to be operated by the Royal Navy.
The Commanding Officer of HMS Agamemnon, Commander John Gabb, said: “It is an enormous privilege to be the first person to command this vessel at sea.
“We will get to know Agamemnon well over the coming months. This submarine is incredibly quiet, has a world-class sonar and will be home to us all as we generate for operations.”
HMS Agamemnon’s keel was laid in July 2013 and she was commissioned by the King in September 2025.
The submarine’s first trim dive – a specialised controlled dive – was in October 2025 at BAE Barrow’s Devonshire Dock Hall where she was submerged some 15 metres.
Agamemnon’s first dive at sea was conducted en route to her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde. Under the watchful eye of a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter the submarine “took the plunge” in the Inner Hebrides Exercise Areas.
Commander Gabb continued: “The first dive for any submarine is a significant achievement in its generation. While this time we were being supported by a Merlin helicopter, it will not be long before we are conducting realistic pre-operational training using the same aircraft to simulate the enemy.
“Next time we will be pushing the crew and the submarine to its maximum potential to operate undetected.”
The submarine’s performance, manoeuvrability, speed, and general seaworthiness are all put to the test during a rigorous series of sea trials which will continue over the coming weeks and months.
HMS Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious, and Anson are already in service with the Royal Navy, with Agamemnon set to join them as an operational vessel following the completion of her trials. The seventh, and final, vessel of the class – HMS Achilles – is currently under construction at Barrow.
The Astutes are the first class not to be fitted with optical periscopes, instead using high-specification video technology to scan the horizon. They are also the quietest submarines ever constructed, can circumnavigate the globe completely submerged, creating their own oxygen and drinking water.
Among the class’s arsenal is the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, allowing them to strike ground targets hundreds of miles inland with pinpoint accuracy. They also carry the Spearfish torpedo which can attack targets up to 30 miles away at low speed.
