Royal Navy's most advanced hunter-killer submarine in the water for the first time

HMS Agamemnon, the Royal Navy's most advanced hunter-killer submarine, has made a significant step forward, being moved into the water for the first time.

Agamemnon, the penultimate Astute-class submarine that is being built for the Silent Service, was formally launched at BAE Systems' facility in Barrow.

A delicate operation took place to move the 7,400-tonne boat from the construction hall into the basin.

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HMS Agamemnon, who takes her name from the legendary Greek king who blockaded Troy, is the sixth of seven Astute-class submarines being built for the Royal Navy over the past quarter of a century.

Nicknamed "Awesome Aggie", she will serve at the leading edge of submarine operations into the second half of the 21st century.

The submarine will be shielding the UK's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carrier task groups from hostile threats, gathering intelligence, launching Royal Marines raids and, where necessary, striking at the UK's enemies on land with pinpoint accuracy through her Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Agamemnon's Commanding Officer, Commander David Crosby, commended the "superb collaborative effort" of the launch.

"It is fantastic to finally get Awesome Aggie into the water in preparation for the final stages of build and commissioning of this extremely complex and highly capable submarine," he said.

There is still plenty to do until we get to exit Agamemnon from Barrow, but the entire workforce should be full of pride for what they have achieved with this build so far."

Still under construction in the gigantic Devonshire Dock Hall is the final Astute-class boat, HMS Agincourt, as well as HMS Dreadnought, the first of the future nuclear deterrent submarines.