The White Ensign now billows over two Astute-class submarines after the second boat, HMS Ambush, was officially handed over to the Royal Navy following successful trials.
Builders BAE Systems formally transferred the £1bn hunter-killer – one of seven successors to the long-serving Trafalgar-class – to the Silent Service in Ambush’s home port of Faslane.
ON A bitterly cold, grey winter’s day on the Clyde, an occasion to fill the heart of submariners with warmth – metaphorically speaking.
Wearing the trademark woollen white pullover of his Service, AB George Sherwin raises the White Ensign for the first time on his £1bn nuclear submarine.
The second of the Silent Service’s new hunter-killer submarines is now officially in Royal Navy hands after being formally transferred to its charge by builders BAE Systems in her home base of Faslane.
Cdr Peter Green and his Executive Officer Lt Cdr Pete Noblett stand in front of the newly-raised White Ensign in a Scottish snow flurry
Saluting as the RN’s standard was hoisted for the first time, Ambush’s Commanding Officer Cdr Peter Green said: “It is a proud day for all of us. To see the boat flying the flag of the Royal Navy is fantastic and shows just has far we have come in such a short space of time.”
As for the man doing the hoisting, sonar specialist George said: “It was fantastic to see her become part of the Fleet. We’ve all worked really hard to get to this point and to be part of the handover has been memorable.”
The handover followed a signing ceremony onboard the hunter-killer as Tony Wilcox, head of acceptance for BAE Systems, joined Cdr Green in signing the ‘certificate of acceptance’.
It means Ambush which was launched at Barrow at the end of 2010 and arrived on the Clyde in September, has completed of her contractor sea trials.
When she left Cumbria, Ambush was flying the defaced Blue Ensign to mark her out as a vessel undergoing sea trials. Those trials tested the boat’s systems to their limits, including taking the boat to her deep diving depth to ensure that she is safe.
Sponsor Lady Soar poses with members of the ship’s company in Ambush’s control room
With those trials complete, the boat returned to Faslane and, as well as the official transfer, Ambush – officially she doesn’t earn the prefix HMS until she’s commissioned later this year – hosted her sponsor, Lady Soar.
It’s the first time she’s visited the boat in her new home on the Clyde, and the ship’s company were keen to appraise her of progress in an eventful autumn.
As well as a presentational video recalling the highlights of the trials around Scotland – which saw ‘the Mighty Bush’ link up at sea with her older sister Astute for the first time – special demonstrations of some of the submarine’s systems were laid on, including Ambush’s ‘optronics’ system which has replaced traditional periscopes on this new class of boats.
Lady Soar gets to grip with the ‘optronics’ system – replacement for traditional periscopes on the Astute class
“The detail on the screen is amazing. It’s a clear demonstration of the technology that sets Ambush apart from previous submarines,” said Lady Soar, whose husband Admiral Sir Trevor was in charge of diesel boat HMS Ocelot and nuclear-powered hunter-killer HMS Talent.
On completion of the tour Lady Soar was hosted for lunch by the senior rates’ mess before undertaking a tour of the engine and manoeuvring rooms.
Ambush conducting trials off the Scottish west coast just before Christmas. Picture: LA(Phot) Will Haigh, FRPU North
“The boat looks remarkable and the ship’s company are in excellent spirits. I’m exceptionally proud to be the sponsor of a boat that has achieved so much in such a short space of time,” Ambush’s sponsor added.
AB Adam Scott, a tactical systems specialist, said: “It’s great to have a sponsor who is so interested in how we’re doing. It’s an opportunity to show off the boat – and brag a little about all we’ve done.”
His submarine is now undergoing a maintenance period before returning to sea in the spring to resume trials and training ahead of entering operational service.
