As part of the construction of the seventh and final Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, the Royal Navy has confirmed that its new designation will be HMS Achilles. According to an official announcement on social media, the name was approved by the King without further details.
Estimates suggest that the renaming aims to “avoid offending France,” given that its previous designation honored the Battle of Agincourt, fought in 1415, where an English and Welsh army defeated the French with the innovative use of longbows. However, the official statement claims that the new name honors the Leander-class light cruiser HMS Achilles, which served in the Royal Navy before being transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy and playing a significant role in World War II.
The renaming of the final Astute-class submarine makes it the seventh Royal Navy vessel to bear the name. It was previously intended to be named Ajax, but in May 2018, then-Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson officially announced that the last SSN would be Agincourt.
However, the decision has not been well received by everyone. While the Navy states that the renaming has been debated for over a year, former Defense Secretary Grant Shapps was among those who criticized the move, calling it “nonsense.”
“Renaming HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege. Under Labour, nonsense is being prioritized over tradition and the proud legacy of our Armed Forces,” he stated, emphasizing that the original name represented a decisive moment in British history.
It is worth noting that a previous vessel named HMS Achilles earned battle honors during World War II. Currently, the name “was proposed by the Royal Navy’s Ship Names and Badges Committee and approved by His Majesty the King.” For now, French authorities have not made any public comments, while the last Astute-class submarine remains under construction, with the sixth unit, HMS Agamemnon, having been floated out last October.
Cover image used for illustration purposes.
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