Latest news with #HMSAchilles
Local France
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Local France
UK govt accused of renaming submarine to avoid offending France
The previous Conservative government announced in 2018 that the attack submarine would be named Agincourt in honour of Henry V's victory over the French in the 1415 battle. But the Royal Navy announced on Sunday that the underwater vessel, which is still being built, would be now be called HMS Achilles after a famous World War II cruiser. "We are proud of our nation's rich military history and the many famous battles fought," a Royal Navy spokesman said in a statement. "The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called Achilles, a name which is particularly appropriate this year as we mark the VE and VJ Day 80th anniversaries." The spokesperson added that the name had been proposed by the navy's ships naming committee and "approved" by King Charles III, as per long-established procedure. But former Tory defence ministers Grant Shapps and Ben Wallace slammed the move, suggesting the Labour government was changing the name for fear of annoying French counterparts. "Renaming the HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege," said Shapps. "This submarine carries a name that honours a defining moment in British history. "Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our armed forces' proud heritage." Wallace accused the government of "focusing on superficial nonsense rather than rebuilding our defence". "The French are one of our strongest allies. They don't get put off by names like that. I mean, that shows a very pathetic grasp of foreign policy and relationships," he told Times Radio. A spokesman for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Achilles name was "particularly appropriate" this year due to the Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan anniversaries. A message posted on the Royal Navy's account on X said six ships had previously borne the Achilles name.
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
‘Woke nonsense': Grant Shapps hits out at submarine's new name
The decision to rename the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Agincourt is 'woke nonsense', a former defence secretary has claimed. The Astute-class attack submarine, which is still under construction, was due to be named in honour of Henry V's 1415 victory over the French. But the boat will now be called HMS Achilles, a famous name in Royal Navy history. Amid speculation the change was prompted to avoid offending the French, former defence secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Renaming the HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege. 'This submarine carries a name that honours a defining moment in British history. 'Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our armed forces' proud heritage.' Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told Times Radio the French would not have been offended by the name. He said: 'We're very close to the French. The French are one of our strongest allies. 'They don't get put off by names like that. 'I mean, that shows a very pathetic grasp of foreign policy and relationships.' He added that the French 'celebrate their successes' but 'also know in their history they didn't have all the successes'. 'So, if that is the actual reason it's been renamed, then I would be concerned that it shows we're focusing on superficial nonsense rather than rebuilding our defence,' he said. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'We are proud of our nation's rich military history and the many famous battles fought. 'The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called Achilles, a name which is particularly appropriate this year as we mark the VE and VJ Day 80th anniversaries. 'Achilles received battle honours during the Second World War. 'The name was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and approved by His Majesty the King.' In October last year Grant Shapps launched Conservatives Together, a group that aims to pick the party back up after a record electoral defeat. Mr Shapps who lost his own seat in July, told a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference that the organisation was an independent group of MPs, former MPs, candidates and former candidates. Mr Shapps said it was 'definitely not a think tank' and will not be allied to a particular leadership campaign or candidate. 'We are thinking about: 'How do we support conservatives at every level of the party who are involved in the party to campaign more effectively?'' he said.
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Renaming of submarine Agincourt ‘woke nonsense', says ex-defence secretary
A decision to rename nuclear-powered submarine HMS Agincourt is 'woke nonsense', a former defence secretary said. The Astute-class attack submarine, which is still under construction, was due to be named in honour of Henry V's 1415 victory over the French. But the boat will now be called HMS Achilles, a famous name in Royal Navy history. Amid speculation the change was prompted to avoid offending the French, former defence secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Renaming the HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege. 'This submarine carries a name that honours a defining moment in British history. 'Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our armed forces' proud heritage.' Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told Times Radio the French would not have been offended by the name. He said: 'We're very close to the French. The French are one of our strongest allies. 'They don't get put off by names like that. 'I mean, that shows a very pathetic grasp of foreign policy and relationships.' He added that the French 'celebrate their successes' but 'also know in their history they didn't have all the successes'. 'So, if that is the actual reason it's been renamed, then I would be concerned that it shows we're focusing on superficial nonsense rather than rebuilding our defence,' he said. A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'We are proud of our nation's rich military history and the many famous battles fought. 'The seventh boat in the Astute class is to be called Achilles, a name which is particularly appropriate this year as we mark the VE and VJ Day 80th anniversaries. 'Achilles received battle honours during the Second World War. 'The name was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and approved by His Majesty the King.'
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Navy submarine name change is woke nonsense, says Shapps
The Royal Navy has announced it is changing the name of a new submarine from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles, in a move branded "woke nonsense" by former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. It follows reports of concern within the Ministry of Defence that the original name for the vessel - which is being built in Barrow, Cumbria - may have offended the French. Agincourt refers to a battle England won against France in 1415, as part of the Hundred Years' War. On Sunday, the Royal Navy said the submarine would instead be named HMS Achilles and that the change had been under discussion for more than a year. A spokesperson said Achilles particularly appropriate as the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan days - both of which take place this year. A previous vessel named HMS Achilles received battle honours during World War Two. Another ship with the name took part in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, when the Royal Navy defeated a French and Spanish fleet. Gavin Williamson, a Conservative former defence secretary, first announced the name Agincourt in 2018 for the under-construction vessel, the seventh of the Astute Class submarines to be commissioned. There had previously been suggestions it could be named Ajax. A Navy statement said the name change had been under discussion for more than a year and "was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and approved by His Majesty the King". But the switch has caused controversy, not least because the announcement came shortly before the Sun newspaper was due to publish a story on internal debates over its planned name. In a post on X, Shapps said "renaming HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege". He said the original name signified a defining moment in British history. "Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our Armed Forces' proud heritage," the former Conservative MP said. There has been no public comment from French authorities. Changing the name of Royal Navy vessels is relatively rare but not without precedent. In 1939, a Royal Navy corvette due to be named HMS Pansy became HMS Heartsease just before it was launched. All of the Navy's Astute Class submarines bear a name beginning with the letter A: HMS Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious and Anson are all in active service. Alongside HMS Achilles, HMS Agamemnon is also under construction.
BBC News
27-01-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Grant Shapps calls Navy submarine name change 'woke nonsense'
The Royal Navy has announced it is changing the name of a new submarine from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles, in a move branded "woke nonsense" by former Defence Secretary Grant follows reports of concern within the Ministry of Defence that the original name for the vessel - which is being built in Barrow, Cumbria - may have offended the refers to a battle England won against France in 1415, as part of the Hundred Years' Sunday, the Royal Navy said the submarine would instead be named HMS Achilles and that the change had been under discussion for more than a year. A spokesperson said Achilles particularly appropriate as the world prepares to mark the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan days - both of which take place this year.A previous vessel named HMS Achilles received battle honours during World War Two. Another ship with the name took part in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, when the Royal Navy defeated a French and Spanish Williamson, a Conservative former defence secretary, first announced the name Agincourt in 2018 for the under-construction vessel, the seventh of the Astute Class submarines to be commissioned. There had previously been suggestions it could be named Ajax. A Navy statement said the name change had been under discussion for more than a year and "was proposed by the Royal Navy Ships Names and Badging committee and approved by His Majesty the King".But the switch has caused controversy, not least because the announcement came shortly before the Sun newspaper was due to publish a story on internal debates over its planned a post on X, Shapps said "renaming HMS Agincourt is nothing short of sacrilege". He said the original name signified a defining moment in British history."Under Labour, woke nonsense is being put ahead of tradition and our Armed Forces' proud heritage," the former Conservative MP has been no public comment from French the name of Royal Navy vessels is relatively rare but not without 1939, a Royal Navy corvette due to be named HMS Pansy became HMS Heartsease just before it was of the Navy's Astute Class submarines bear a name beginning with the letter A: HMS Astute, Ambush, Artful, Audacious and Anson are all in active service. Alongside HMS Achilles, HMS Agamemnon is also under construction.
