Royal Navy's Final Astute-Class Submarine To Be Named HMS Achilles

Deciding on a name for the 7th Astute-class Royal Navy submarine is proving quite the battle: now she’s not going to be called HMS Agincourt after all.

Instead, the final boat in the Astute class of nuclear-powered attack submarines being constructed by BAE Systems will now be called HMS Achilles.

The Royal Navy announced the news on Sunday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, saying the switch in moniker was “as approved by The King.”

The statement added: “The name is appropriate in light of the 80th anniversaries this year of VE and VJ Day. Six ships have previously borne the name, earning six battle honours, including the River Plate and Okinawa.”

The change of heart actually takes the number of names held by the as-yet unfinished vessel to three: originally the in-work name of the boat was Ajax, before Agincourt was announced as the official first choice back in 2018.

HMS Achilles, pennant number S125, is currently under construction at BAE Systems’ Barrow-in-Furness yard; her commissioning is currently pencilled in for late 2026.

It’s thought there were fears that using the name Agincourt, referencing King Henry V’s victory in battle in 1415 in the Hundred Years’ War,  might offend NATO ally France.