HMS Ambush has left port in Gibraltar to return to the UK for repairs.

A nuclear-powered Royal Navy submarine which was damaged in a collision with a merchant vessel has left port in Gibraltar to return to the UK for repairs.

HMS Ambush was been involved in a collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar.

According to a press release on the day:

“At approximately 1330 local time today, HMS AMBUSH, an Astute-class submarine, while submerged and conducting a training exercise was involved in a glancing collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar. We are in contact with the merchant vessel and initial indications are that it has not sustained damage.

The submarine suffered some external damage but there is absolutely no damage to her nuclear plant and no member of the ship’s company was injured in the incident. 

An immediate investigation is being conducted.”

HMS Ambush is an Astute class nuclear fleet submarine, the second boat of her class. She was ordered in 1997, laid down in 2003 and commissioned in 2013.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said:

“We can confirm it has left Gibraltar.”

A statement released by the Spanish government on Thursday said:

“In response to the request reiterated yesterday by the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, the embassy of the United Kingdom announced in the late afternoon that, following an assessment made after the accident suffered by HMS Ambush, it has been decided to repair the vessel in the United Kingdom. The embassy also confirmed once again that the reactor was not affected in the incident.”

In April 2015, Ambush participated in Exercise Joint Warrior, the largest military exercise held in Europe, alongside 55 other naval ships of NATO navies.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Gary Elliott
7 years ago

You had one job, don’t hit anything.

Ray Lovie
7 years ago

Black maskers

Stefan Roberts
7 years ago

Hell of an ambush lol

Mark Llewellyn
7 years ago

No convinced it hit a merchant. Russian sub maybe?

UK Defence Journal
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

She did hit a merchant vessel.

Mark Llewellyn
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

UK Defence Journal not seen any evidence of the hit on the merchant.

Sam
Sam
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

Agreed, it is not unheard of for governments to fabricate stories like this to avoid publicising more serious incidents. Like Mark said, there is no evidence.

Bloke down the pub
Bloke down the pub
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

Lack of evidence is not of itself evidence of anything. The fact that, by definition, any evidence of the impact on the merchantman’s will be underwater, means that unless you’re a diver you won’t have seen anything.

James Gale
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

A U.K. Astute-class nuclear attack submarine struck a merchant vessel near Gibraltar on Wednesday at about 1:30 P.M. local time, the Royal Navy said in a statement.

HMS Ambush was submerged when it, “was involved in a glancing collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar,” read the statement.
“We are in contact with the merchant vessel and initial indications are that it has not sustained damage.”

James Gale
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

Non story.

Mark Llewellyn
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

James Gale Yes James the statement everyone’s seen the statement, nobody has seen the merchant?

Michelle Doust
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

Haha true that ….

Chris
Chris
7 years ago
Reply to  Mark Llewellyn

If a Russian sub hit it there would be a lot of damage to both subs

Ian Wallace
Ian Wallace
7 years ago

Merchant vessel not named and more damage than a glancing blow. Bridge totally gone with srbd periscope probably damaged as will as intercept dome damage!!

Brian Mooney
7 years ago

Strange with one of our newest subs couldn’t see whatever she hit,unless it was cat and mouse with another sub from a foreign navy

Karl Bromley
7 years ago

LIES!!! she didn’t hit a merchant’s vessel!! she hit an underwater alien Fart probing facility!! just off the coast of GIB and Judging by the size of the Dint,makes me think she got Tee-Baged good by one of those Grey aliens. wake up people,

Hiran Fernando
7 years ago

More like HMS Irony !!!

Anchors Awash
6 years ago

Is she back in service yet?