HMS Ambush
Inside the Navy’s new £1billion supersub: Deadly Hunter Killer submarine is capable of hearing a ship leaving port in New York… while sat underwater in the English channel
One of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful nuclear submarines. Carries dozens of cruise missiles capable of hitting targets 1,200 miles away.
Her sonar can detect vessels moving on the other side of the ocean
Powerful nuclear reactor allows her to cruise non-stop for 25 years
HMS Ambush is so hi-tech the giant submarine doesn’t even need a periscope
She cost around £1billion to build, has sonar so sensitive it can hear other vessels 3,000 miles away and carries a giant payload of 38 deadly Tomahawk cruise missiles.
HMS Ambush, the Royal Navy’s newest nuclear attack submarine, is one of the most sophisticated and powerful vessels of her type ever built.
The giant Astute-class sub, which was launched today, is so hi-tech she doesn’t even need a periscope.
HMS Ambush: Her powerful nuclear reactor allows her to travel around the world without stopping. She can cruise for up to 500 miles in a day
Foreign forces will find it almost impossible to sneak up undetected by her incredibly powerful sonar equipment that can hear halfway around the world.
Her Tomahawk missiles are capable of hitting targets up to 1,200 miles away – making her a vital weapon for Britain’s armed forces.
‘This sub is a huge step forward in underwater operations,’ ‘Her listening ability is quite awesome. She has a sonar system with the processing power of 2,000 laptop computers.Her crew instead using a digital camera system to see above the surface when she is submerged.
Built by BAE Systems, she has enough nuclear fuel to carry on cruising for up to 25 years non-stop – giving her huge tactical flexibility. Her nuclear reactor is so powerful her range is only really limited by the need for maintenance and resupply.
Many details of HMS Ambush’s weapons systems cannot be revealed for security reasons. Most of her 103-strong crew live in bunk-beds measuring two metres by one metre, with up to 18 submariners sharing one room.
After today’s launch HMS Ambush will begin sea trials before eventually beginning operations.