HMS Agamemnon, the sixth Astute class submarine, recently joined the Royal Navy following her official commissioning by King Charles III. The trim dive marks a major step in preparation for her departure to His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, where she will operate alongside her sister vessels.
“This trim dive is the culmination of months of hard work. I’d like to thank all teams involved for their commitment and professionalism. We’re incredibly proud of the contribution we’re making to the nation’s security and Barrow’s long and distinguished heritage as the home of UK submarine design and build,” said Pete Tumelty, Astute Programme Director, BAE Systems’ Submarines business.
Commander David ‘Bing’ Crosby, HMS Agamemnon’s Commanding Officer, highlighted the operational significance of this test phase. “The trim and basin dive is a key step in the commissioning of HMS Agamemnon. This period enables us to set the boat’s internal weight, prove her water-tight integrity, test sensors and put some of our systems through their paces ahead of sailing for the first time. It takes a great deal of planning and preparation to achieve this key step and all involved should be very proud of the part they have played.”
HMS Agamemnon is part of a broader programme at BAE Systems, which includes the build of seven Astute class submarines and four Dreadnought class submarines in partnership with the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise. The Dreadnought class will replace the Vanguard submarines and continue the UK’s Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) mission from the early 2030s.
Henry Musgrave, Head of the Astute Delivery Team at the Submarine Delivery Agency, said: “The successful completion of HMS Agamemnon’s trim dive marks a pivotal milestone in our mission to safely deliver available and capable submarines to the Royal Navy in defence of our nation. This achievement reflects the exceptional collaboration between the SDA and our partners across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to supporting the UK’s nuclear deterrent as a national endeavour.”
Alongside submarine construction, BAE Systems continues its work on the future AUKUS-class nuclear-powered submarines in collaboration with the UK, US, and Australia. To support growing demands, the company has expanded its submarine workforce from 10,700 in 2023 to 15,000 today, with plans to grow to 17,000 in the coming years.
