HMS Ambush (S120)

HMS Ambush is an Astute-class

Astute class submarine

The Astute-class is the latest class of nuclear-powered fleet submarines in service with the Royal Navy. The class sets a new standard for the Royal Navy in terms of weapons load, communication facilities and stealth. The boats are being constructed by BAE Systems Submarine Solutions at...

 nuclear fleet submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

 of the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

, the second boat of her class, and is currently fitting out. Ambush was ordered from GEC's Marconi Marine

Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd

In 1994 VSEL was subject to two takeover proposals, one from GEC and another from British Aerospace . VSEL was willing to participate in a merger with a larger company to reduce its exposure to cycles in warship production, particularly following the "Options for Change" defence review after the...

 (now BAE Systems Submarine Solutions) on 17 March 1997. She was laid down at Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...

 on 22 October 2003, officially named on 16 December 2010, launched on 6 January 2011, completed its initial dive test on 30 September 2011, and is expected to begin sea trials by 2012.

Design

Ambushs 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.

The Astute class SSN

SSN

SSN may refer to:*Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, a primary school in Cork City Ireland*Secure Service Network, a network behind a firewall or IPS containing systems which can be accessed from both the internal and external networks, but cannot reach the internal network*Streaming Sports Network, an...

s are designed as the most stealthy Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 submarines in history. Using advanced stealth technology Astute "makes less noise than a baby dolphin, making her as good as undetectable by enemy ships."

Ambush will carry a mix of 38 weapons in six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes;

• BGM-109 Tomahawk
  BGM-109 Tomahawk
  The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
  
   Block IV cruise missiles. Range of 1350 nautical miles (2,500.2 km).
• Spearfish torpedo
  Spearfish torpedo
  The Spearfish torpedo is the heavy torpedo used by the submarines of the Royal Navy. It can be guided by wire or by autonomous active or passive sonar, and provides both anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface ship warfare capability.It replaces the unreliable Tigerfish torpedo, which was...
  
  es.

Affiliations

Ambush is affiliated to:

• The city of Derby
  Derby
  Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
  
  
• The Dolphin ward of Royal Derby Hospital
• The Sea Cadet
  Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)
  The Sea Cadet Corps is a UK national youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Navy and open to young people between the ages of 10-18 years old. The SCC is the UK's largest Naval Cadet Force with over 30,000 cadets and adult volunteers...
  
   unit TS Kenya
• Rolls-Royce Marine Division, Derby

External links

• Royal Navy - Ambush
• Ambush Proudly Named At Ceremony BAE Systems
• Astute Class Navy Matters

External links

• Navy Matters - Astute Class