HMS Agincourt (S125)

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.[8]

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

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Agincourt
Builder: BAE Systems Submarine Solutions
Cost: £1.640B (budget)[1]
In service: ~2026[2]
Homeport: Faslane
Identification: Pennant number: S125
Status: Under construction[3]
General characteristics
Class and type: Astute-class fleet submarine
Displacement:
  • Surfaced: 7,000 to 7,400 t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons)[4][5]
  • Submerged: 7,400 to 7,800 t (7,700 long tons; 8,600 short tons)[4][5]
Length: 97 m (318 ft 3 in)[4][5]
Beam: 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[4][5]
Draught: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)[4][5]
Propulsion: Rolls-Royce PWR 2 reactor, MTU 600 kilowatt diesel generators
Speed: 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[4][5]
Range: Unlimited[6]
Endurance: 90 days[6]
Test depth: Over 300 m (984 ft 3 in)
Complement: 98 (capacity for 109)[4]
Sensors and
processing systems:
Armament:

The confirmation for the seventh and final Astute-class boat was given in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010, although the order was not placed until 2018.[9]

On 11 December 2012 the British government announced that long-lead items had been ordered for boats 6 and 7.[10]

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,[11] after a leaked Navy document had suggested it might not be procured as a cost-saving measure.[12] In May 2018 it was reported that construction of Boat Seven had begun.[13]

Design

Propulsion

In October 2012 it was confirmed that Agincourt would have a PWR2 reactor like the rest of the Astute class.[14] Agincourt's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25-year service. Since the submarine can replenish her air supply and purify water underway and while submerged, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The submarine's main limitation will be from the three months supply of food carried for the 98 officers and ratings.

Weapons

Agincourt will have provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[15] The submarine will be capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[16] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

References
  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. "Ministry of Defence HMS Audacious". parliamnt.uk. UK Hansard. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020. The delay to the delivery of Audacious will have some impact on the schedule for the next Astute Class, Anson. We remain committed to delivering all seven Astute boats by the end of 2026.
  3. "£300M facilities investment will transform UK submarine building". baesystems.com. BAE Systems, 13 March 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  4. Bush, Steve (2014). British Warships and Auxiliaries. Maritime Books. pp. 10–11. ISBN 1904459552.
  5. "Astute-class attack submarines". royalnavy.mod.uk. Royal Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. "BAE Systems - Astute class submarines". baesystems.com. BAE Systems. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. "UK's most powerful submarine joins the Navy". Ministry of Defence. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44102308
  9. "Second Astute Class submarine officially named". UK Ministry of Defence. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  10. "UK: BAE Systems Secures $1.92 Bln Submarine Deal". navaltoday.com. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  11. "Contingent Liability:Written statement - HCWS516". House of Commons. 6 March 2018.
  12. Chapples, Natalie (6 March 2018). "MoD announces it will sign a contract for Astute boat seven". The Mail.
  13. Maundrill, Beth (1 May 2018). "Seventh Astute class submarine build underway". Shephard Media. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  14. "House of Commons - Written Answers Column 311W". Hansard. UK Parliament. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  15. "Alien submarine breaks technical barriers". BBC News. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  16. "United States Navy Fact File: Tomahawk Land Attack Missile". navy.mil. US Navy. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
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