HMS Ambush (P418)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Other uses".

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English

Script error: No such module "InfoboxImage".
HMS Ambush (P418/S68)
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities". Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".

HMS Ambush (P418/S68/S18), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Vickers Armstrong and launched 24 September 1945.

In 1948 she took part in trials of the submarine snorkel.[1] In 1951 she heard and decoded a distress message from HMS Affray, which was sunk with the ultimate loss of all 75 hands.[2] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[3]

Design

Like all Amphion-class submarines, Ambush had a displacement of Script error: No such module "convert". when at the surface and Script error: No such module "convert". while submerged. She had a total length of Script error: No such module "convert"., a beam of Script error: No such module "convert"., and a draught of Script error: No such module "convert".. The submarine was powered by two Admiralty ML eight-cylinder diesel engines generating a power of Script error: No such module "convert". each. She also contained four electric motors each producing Script error: No such module "convert". that drove two shafts.[4] She could carry a maximum of Script error: No such module "convert". of diesel, although she usually carried between Script error: No such module "convert"..[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of Script error: No such module "convert". and a submerged speed of Script error: No such module "convert"..[5] When submerged, she could operate at Script error: No such module "convert". for Script error: No such module "convert". or at Script error: No such module "convert". for Script error: No such module "convert".. When surfaced, she was able to travel Script error: No such module "convert". at Script error: No such module "convert". or Script error: No such module "convert". at Script error: No such module "convert"..[4] She was fitted with ten Script error: No such module "convert". torpedo tubes, one QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XXIII, one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and a .303 British Vickers machine gun. Her torpedo tubes were fitted to the bow and stern, and she could carry twenty torpedoes. Her complement was sixty-one crew members.[4]

Construction

Ambush was laid down at Vickers Armstrong's Barrow-in-Furness shipyard on 17 May 1945, was launched on 24 September 1945 and completed on 22 July 1947.[6]

Service

On commissioning, Ambush joined the 3rd Submarine Flotilla based at Rothesay, Scotland.[7] The early post-war years saw the Royal Navy introduce the submarine snorkel (known as the Snort in British service), with a number of trials carried out on extended submarine operations using the snort in various weather conditions. Ambush set out from Rothesay on 10 February 1948 on an extended submerged cruise in Arctic waters between Jan Mayen and Bear Island. The submarine encountered a severe storm, which forced Ambush to the surface as she could not maintain depth control well enough to use the snort, returning to base on 18 March.[8][9]

Ambush joined the 10 Submarine Flotilla based at Singapore in November 1959 and remained based in the Far East until 25 July 1967.[10]

Decommissioning and disposal

Following decommissioning, she was sold to Thos. W. Ward and arrived at Inverkeithing for breaking up on 5 July 1971.[11]

References

  1. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  4. a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Blackman 1962, p. 275.
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Hennessy and Jinks 2016, pp. 71–72.
  9. Critchley 1981, p. 56.
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Warlow, Ben Lt Commander, Channel Sweep, (Maritime Books, Liskeard), p7 Template:ISBN
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

External links

Script error: No such module "Military navigation".