Navy's most powerful attack submarine affiliated to Derby

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HMS Ambush, currently being built, and due to be one of the most powerful attack submarines ever made for the Royal Navy, is to be affiliated to the city of Derby.

Artist's impression of Ambush surfaced
[Picture: Royal Navy]

The official declaration was received by the Mayor of Derby, Councillor John Ahern from Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, who is based at HM Naval Base Clyde on the west coast of Scotland, where Ambush and her sister boats will be base-ported.

All ships and submarines of the Royal Navy are affiliated to different towns, cities and regions. This strengthens ties with important communities, including organisations such as naval associations, youth groups and charities.

Derby enjoys existing strong links with the Royal Navy having given the Freedom of the City to the whole Submarine Service in 2002. The City was also affiliated to Swiftsure class submarine, HMS Sovereign, which was decommissioned after 33 years' service in September 2006, in a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Derby. This was followed by a formal civic dinner in the City attended by the Ship's company.

The bow section of Ambush
[Picture: Royal Navy]

Rear Admiral Johnstone-Burt said:

"It is fitting that one of the Navy's new generation of submarines should be affiliated to a region that already has close ties to the Navy – with Rolls-Royce Marine manufacturing all of their nuclear propulsion systems. This allows the close bonds that had been established with our Submarine Service to be strengthened and extended to Ambush's new crew and the other boats."

Mayor of Derby, Councillor John Ahern said:

"We in Derby are delighted that this announcement continues our proud affiliation with a Royal Navy submarine, after the decommissioning of HMS Sovereign.

"In addition the contribution of Rolls-Royce Marine in the construction of these submarines further enhances Derby's reputation as a centre of engineering excellence.

"We will watch the progress of HMS Ambush from now to her commissioning with keen anticipation."

Artist's impression of Ambush submerged
[Picture: Royal Navy]

HMS Ambush is the second of three Astute Class submarines being built for the Royal Navy by BAE Systems Submarines to replace the Swiftsure and Trafalgar Classes on the Clyde and Devonport respectively. HMS Ambush will be launched in 2009 and is due to enter service in 2011, following Astute which enters service in 2008 and which is affiliated to the Wirral on Merseyside.

The Astute Class will be powered by propulsion systems, made at the city's Rolls-Royce plant in Raynesway, which feature a long-life nuclear reactor core which will provide fuel for the submarine's full 25-year service life – ending the need for costly and complex reactor refuelling.

As the stealthiest submarine ever built for the Royal Navy, the Astute Class will have six weapons tubes and can carry much more firepower than earlier classes. They will be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can hit targets with pin point accuracy from 2,000 km, and the potent Spearfish heavyweight torpedo.

A range of non-hull penetrating masts replaces traditional periscopes. Targets are viewed through optronic arrays via video monitors, with imagery recorded for analysis, reducing the time masts have to be raised above the water.

When fully stored Astute will displace 7,800 tonnes of sea water (equivalent to 65 Blue Whales, or nearly 1,000 London buses). She is 97 metres long and 11.2 metres wide.

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That looks like a potent weapons platform. Plus, I like the name HMS Ambush.