HMS Ambush (S120)

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HMS Ambush is an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy, the second boat of her class.

Ambush is the third vessel, and the second submarine, to bear the name in Royal Naval service. She was ordered in 1997, laid down in 2003 and commissioned in 2013.

Design

Propulsion

Ambush's nuclear reactor will not need to be refuelled during the boat's 25-year service. Since the submarine can purify water and air, she will be able to circumnavigate the planet without resurfacing. The main limit is that the submarine will only be able to carry three months' supply of food for 98 officers and ratings.

Weapons

Ambush has provision for up-to 38 weapons in six Template:Convert torpedo tubes.<ref name="bbc20070507">Template:Cite news</ref> The submarine is capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of Template:Convert<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

Construction and commissioning

Ambush was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997. She was laid down at Barrow-in-Furness on 22 October 2003,<ref>BAE Systems Investor Brief October 2003</ref> officially named on 16 December 2010,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> launched on 6 January 2011,<ref name="launch"/> completed her initial dive test on 30 September 2011,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and departed Barrow for sea trials on 15 September 2012.<ref>[1] Template:Webarchive Second Astute Class submarine ready to leave Barrow</ref> Ambush was commissioned in a ceremony at HM Naval Base Clyde on 1 March 2013.<ref name="Commissioning">Template:Cite web</ref>

Operational history

Following her commissioning, Ambush continued sea trials throughout much of 2013. In May 2013, she carried out berthing trials with forward support ship Template:Ship<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and, in August 2013, she successfully conducted her first live torpedo and cruise missile firings.<ref>HMS Ambush action for the first time Template:Webarchive, bfbs.com</ref>

In October 2014, Ambush completed a maiden deployment to the United States and Brazil, visiting Florida's Port Canaveral along the way and taking part in the centenary celebrations of the Brazilian submarine force.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In April 2015, Ambush participated in Exercise Joint Warrior, the largest military exercise held in Europe, alongside 55 other naval ships of NATO navies.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She further participated in Exercise Dynamic Manta 15.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Collision

File:HMS Ambush Returning to HMNB Clyde, Scotland MOD 45155868.jpg

HMS Ambush returning to HMNB Clyde, Scotland

On 20 July 2016, while surfacing on an exercise in the Strait of Gibraltar, Ambush collided with the Panama-flagged merchant ship Template:MV, sustaining significant damage to the top of her fin (described as a “conning tower” in some reports) where some of her sonar equipment is housed. It was reported that no crew members were injured during the collision and that the submarine's nuclear reactor section remained completely undamaged.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Collision">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nwemail-20170207">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="FM13927">Template:Cite web</ref> Repairs cost £2.1 million and the commander, who was training a group of students at the time, was sentenced to forfeiting a year of seniority for negligently hazarding the vessel.<ref name="guardian-20180215">Template:Cite news</ref>

As of August 2025, HMS Ambush was reported to be undergoing a period of prolonged maintenance at Faslane, having last been to sea in the autumn of 2022.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>

Affiliations

Ambush is affiliated to:

• Derby Sea Cadets: The Sea Cadet unit TS Ambush <ref name=affiliations/>
• Burton Sea Cadets: The Sea Cadet unit TS Modwena <ref name=affiliations/>
• Newark Sea Cadets: The Sea Cadet unit TS Newark Castle <ref name=affiliations/>
• The city of Derby<ref name=affiliations>Template:Cite web</ref>
• The Dolphin ward of Royal Derby Hospital<ref name=affiliations/>
• Bemrose School Derby<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Rolls-Royce Marine Division, Derby<ref name=affiliations/>
• Royal Naval Association, Derby Submariners' Association, Derby branch<ref name=affiliations/>
• National Memorial Arboretum<ref name=affiliations/>

External links

• Royal Navy HMS Ambush (royalnavy.mod.uk)