New submarine HMS Achilles welcomes her Sponsor for first time

For the first time the Sponsor of HMS Achilles saw her submarine when she visited the seventh and final Astute-class boat in the closing stages of construction.

Baroness Martha Lane Fox met both crew and some of the hundreds of people involved in turning charts, blueprints and computer plans into the most advanced submarine the Royal Navy has ever operated.

Accompanied by Achilles Commanding Officer Commander ‘Bing’ Crosby, Astute Programme Director, Pete Tumelty and Managing Director, Submarine Operations, Dean Armstrong, the Baroness met members of the Boat 7 team in the Devonshire Dock Hall in Barrow and also visited crew accommodation to meet the ship's company.

Baroness Lane Fox made her name as founder of website Lastminute.com, served as the Government’s ‘digital champion’, established the Gov.uk series of websites, served on the boards of numerous businesses including M&S and Channel 4, and is currently President of the British Chambers of Commerce, Chancellor of The Open University and patron of several charities.

As Achilles’ Sponsor, Baroness Lane Fox will be a champion for the boat and all who serve aboard, attend key moments in the submarine’s career – naming, launch, commissioning, and significant anniversaries – and work with affiliates and the public to help raise the profile and understanding of the Submarine Service which is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2026.

This was her first chance to get to grips with a programme described as on a par with the Space Shuttle in terms of complexity, engaging with the build team and crew to gain insight into daily life and operations onboard the vessel as it progresses towards key milestones such as naming and launch.

She said her introduction to Achilles had been “epic” with the dedication, passion and commitment of everyone involved in the boat shining through.

“Seeing Achilles for the first time was a real career highlight,” Baroness Lane Fox added. “The thing that blew my mind was combination of macro and micro – from the scale of the National Endeavour around nuclear, to the micro of the front-end work, it was fascinating to see close up.

"My main intention now is to try and raise the profile of Barrow and the submarine community in the places I operate."

Few people are more passionate about the Astute programme than Achilles’ Commanding Officer who proudly describes his boat simply as “last of class, best of class”.

Cdr Crosby continued: "This first visit strengthened the bond between the Baroness and everyone associated with Achilles and gave her a valuable insight into the dedication, professionalism, and daily life of the boat team and crew.  It is another key milestone as we look to bring Achilles to life.

"The Baroness's engagement and support are greatly appreciated and will continue to inspire and motivate all personnel onboard. We look forward to maintaining this important relationship in the future. Thank you to all involved for supporting this strategically important endeavour."