The Royal Navy wanted to rename a submarine so as not to “upset the French”

2024-01-04 19:36:00

Shocking le HMS Agincourt ? The future and seventh nuclear attack submarine (SNA), designed to remain discreet in the abysses, is under the fire of a controversy with entirely British humor. According to the daily Daily ExpressRoyal Navy officials reportedly considered changing the name of the building for “fear of upsetting the French.”

In question, Agincourt or Agincourt, to be pronounced depending on which side of the Channel you are on, is, of course, a reference to the famous battle of October 1415 during the Hundred Years’ War between France and England. The latter, under the command of King Henry V, had inflicted a severe defeat on the cream of French chivalry.

Six ships named Agincourt

The HMS Agincourt will be the seventh Astute-class SNA launched by the Royal Navy. 97 meters long and with a displacement of 7,800 tonnes when submerged, it will be maneuvered by 98 crew members and will be able to sail at up to 29 knots (53 km/h). Its launch is planned for this year. When choosing its name in 2018, the commission responsible for naming Her Majesty’s ships did not perceive any possible controversies or polemics. Especially since the HMS Agincourt will be the sixth Royal Navy vessel to proudly bear the name of the battle, after a dreadnought in 1913 or a destroyer in 1943.

British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps reportedly called the name change requests “ridiculous,” government sources report. Daily Express. “The French are close allies and remain so because of our long shared history, it is a relationship that will not be affected by the name of a ship,” he reportedly added. “It is entirely appropriate to name a warship after a great military victory,” said a Royal Navy spokesperson.

And in France ?

In France, each name assigned to a ship of the national navy is also subject to in-depth examination. A list of proposals is based on five criteria: the natural environment (the wind, the constellations), virtue, recognition (famous personalities), the cohesion of the navy and the nation (names of cities or regions) and influence from France. The list is transmitted to the Defense Historical Service, then to the Chief of Staff of the Navy. The latter then transmits it to the Minister of the Armed Forces, who has the last word. The name of the first ship in a series sets the tone for the following ones.

So the first generation SNAs have gemstone names, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Amethyst, Perlewith the exception of Casabianca The current second generation, that of the Barracuda, which bears the names of French admirals: Duguay-Trouin, Tourville, From Grasse. The Suffren, was launched in 2019 in Cherbourg. A tribute paid to Pierre-André de Suffren (1729-1788), who distinguished himself at sea against in particular… the English.