 The class is known as the "Ajax" class because "Ajax" was laid down first although "Agamemnon" was completed one day before her sister.The class was designed with a very small length to beam ratio, it being thought at the time that this would increase fuel economy.This turned out not to be the case, and also and quite unexpectedly produced the need for a large amount of helm to be applied, sometimes to port and sometimes starboard, to keep the ship on a straight course.