Britain’s Latest Submarine Goes Underwater for the First Time in Historic Test
- MM24 News Desk
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The UK's newest nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon, has successfully submerged for the first time during a crucial 'trim dive' at BAE Systems' shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria. The 7,400-tonne vessel underwent a three-day testing period to prove its stability and water-tight integrity, a pivotal step before it joins the operational fleet.
In a significant step toward active service, the Royal Navy's sixth Astute-class submarine has proven its seaworthiness beneath the surface. The complex process, known as a trim and basin dive, is designed to fine-tune the vessel's internal balance and verify that all its systems perform as expected in the water. For a submarine, the first controlled dive is a moment of truth, confirming that months of construction and engineering have culminated in a vessel ready for the open ocean.
The event, reported by BAE Systems, marks a major achievement for the crew and the thousands of skilled workers at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, a site with a long history of British naval engineering. This milestone comes shortly after King Charles III formally commissioned the boat into the Royal Navy, adding the name Agamemnon to the fleet roster. The submarine’s departure from its construction dock to its future home at His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde in Scotland is now on the horizon.
So, what exactly does a trim dive accomplish? Imagine trying to perfectly balance a giant, complex object weighing over 7,000 tonnes in a fluid environment. The dive allows engineers and the crew to set the boat’s internal weight by adjusting ballast, ensuring it sits perfectly level in the water. It also rigorously tests the hull's water-tight integrity—verifying that no unwanted water gets in—and puts sensors and other critical systems through their paces.
Commander David ‘Bing’ Crosby, the HMS Agamemnon Commanding Officer,
emphasized the importance of this phase. He stated, according to BAE Systems, that 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." He praised the immense planning and preparation involved, noting that all participants should be proud of their role.
This success is part of a much larger national endeavor. BAE Systems is currently building seven of these advanced Astute-class submarines, with HMS Agamemnon being the sixth. Furthermore, the company is already looking to the future. In partnership with the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise, it is constructing the next generation of Dreadnought-class submarines. These colossal vessels are slated to enter service from the early 2030s and will be responsible for carrying the UK's Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD), the nation's ultimate security guarantee which ensures a nuclear-armed submarine is always patrolling secretly underwater.
Pete Tumelty, Astute Programme Director at BAE Systems’ Submarines business, reflected on the collective effort, saying, "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." This sentiment was echoed by Henry Musgrave, Head of the Astute Delivery Team at the Submarine Delivery Agency, who called the dive's completion a "pivotal milestone" in delivering capable submarines to defend the nation.
The demand for this specialized shipbuilding expertise is only growing. To support its healthy order book, which now includes design work on future AUKUS submarines with the US and Australia, BAE Systems has expanded its submarine workforce from 10,700 in 2023 to 15,000 today, with numbers expected to climb to 17,000 in the coming years.
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