No 10 defends decision to change name of HMS Agincourt submarine

One of the Royal Navy's seven existing Astute-class attack submarines at the entrance to Holy Loch and Loch Long near Kilcreggan, Scotland. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Downing Street has defended the government’s decision to change the name of a new attack submarine from HMS Agincourt to HMS Achilles after critics accused ministers of trying not to upset the French.

A No 10 spokesperson called the decision to change the planned name of the vessel “appropriate and fitting”, despite criticism that ministers were being “craven”. Officials say the name Achilles had been chosen in part to pay tribute to an previous ship of the same name.