The Royal Navy's decision to rename its new Astute-class submarine from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles has sparked controversy. While the government claims the change honors a previous ship's World War II battle achievements, critics argue it panders to political correctness and avoids upsetting the French. This situation harks back to the infamous Boaty McBoatface incident, which serves as a reminder of the fraught history behind ship naming in the UK. Comments from politicians and former military personnel reveal a divide over the motives and implications of such a name change.
"The naming of ships in this country is famously fraught after the saga of Boaty McBoatface, one of those jokes that was supposed to advertise the country's jaunty irreverence and ended up being flogged into tiresome half-wittedness."
"The jumpiness over naming the Astute-class submarine brought back memories of Boaty McBoatface."
"We must be grateful no one put in a call to the British Legion. (The Daily Express probably did. I can't bring myself to look.)"
"The government insists the vessel hasn't been renamed because it might make the French feel bad, but rather to pay tribute to a previous ship of the same name that received battle honours during the second world war."
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