As a nuclear-powered attack submarine, HMS Agamemnon is given a Rolls-Royce brand PWR2 series nuclear reactor that allows for near-infinite underwater endurance - essentially limited to onboard food storage (amounting to three months). The service life of the reactor itself is an estimated 25 years. The propulsion system will also include MTU diesel generators developing 600 kilowatts of additional available power. The configuration will grant Agamemnon a maximum ocean-going speed of 30+ knots in ideal conditions.
With her attack categorization, HMS Agamemnon is appropriately outfitted with 6 x 21" (533mm) torpedo tubes to counter undersea and surface threats. The vessel will fire the BAE Systems "Spearfish" wire-guided torpedo, a weapon introduced into Royal Navy service in 1992, features a 30 nautical mile range and carries a 660lb warhead through an autonomous active terminal homing sonar guidance kit. The six launch tubes are seated in two sets of three, each at the lower sides of the front hull. The vessel will also support the carrying and launching of the American Raythen BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile (Block IV) against land-based targets as required. Block IV represents an improved version of the original BGM-109C attack missile (TLAM-C) featuring the unitary warhead. In addition to her obvious use in attacking enemy shipping/warships at sea or infrastructure on land, Agamemnon will also serve British special forces elements as called.
HMS Agamemnon (S124) carries the name of King Agamemnon born of Greek mythology. The name has been given to five Royal Navy vessels previously with the first dating back to the 1781 64-gun third-rate tall ship of Battle of Trafalgar fame. The other famous hulk became HMS Agamemnon of 1906, a Lord Nelson-class warship featured in World War 1.
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