HMS Ambush (S120)
Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HMS Ambush is an Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Royal Navy, the second boat of her class.
Ambush on sea trials, December 2012. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Ambush |
| Namesake | Ambush |
| Ordered | March 1997 |
| Builder | BAE Systems Submarine Solutions |
| Laid down | 22 October 2003 |
| Launched | 6 January 2011[1] |
| Christened | 16 December 2010[2] |
| Commissioned | 1 March 2013 |
| Homeport | HM Naval Base Clyde |
| Identification | Pennant number: S120 |
| Motto | Hide And Seek[3] |
| Status | In active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Astute-class fleet submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 97 m (318 ft 3 in)[4][5] |
| Beam | 11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)[4][5] |
| Draught | 10 m (32 ft 10 in)[4][5] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph), submerged[4][5] |
| Range | Unlimited[7] |
| Endurance | 90 days[7] |
| Test depth | Over 300 m (984 ft 3 in) |
| Complement | 98 (capacity for 109)[4] |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
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.
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.
Ambush has provision for up-to 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes.[9] The submarine is capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[10] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.
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,[11] officially named on 16 December 2010,[12] launched on 6 January 2011,[1] completed her initial dive test on 30 September 2011,[13] and departed Barrow for sea trials on 15 September 2012.[14] Ambush was commissioned in a ceremony at HM Naval Base Clyde on 1 March 2013.[15]
Following her commissioning, Ambush continued sea trials throughout much of 2013. In May 2013, she carried out berthing trials with forward support ship RFA Diligence[16] and, in August 2013, she successfully conducted her first live torpedo and cruise missile firings.[17]
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.[18][19][20] In April 2015, Ambush participated in Exercise Joint Warrior, the largest military exercise held in Europe, alongside 55 other naval ships of NATO navies.[21] She further participated in Exercise Dynamic Manta 15.[22]
On 20 July 2016, while surfacing on an exercise in the Strait of Gibraltar, Ambush collided with the Panama-flagged merchant ship Andreas, sustaining significant damage to the top of her conning tower 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.[23][24][25][26] 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.[27]
As of early 2024, HMS Ambush was reported to be undergoing a period of prolonged maintenance at Faslane, having last been to sea in the autumn of 2022.[28]
Ambush is affiliated to:
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
