---
title: "Check Out The Huge Dent In HMS Ambush"
description: "That definitely won’t buff out."
date: "2016-07-26"
modified: "2016-07-26"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway.md"
url: "https://www.twz.com/4580/check-out-the-huge-dent-in-hms-ambush"
categories:
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "Astute Class"
  - "Europe"
  - "Navies"
  - "News & Features"
  - "Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs)"
  - "Royal Navy"
  - "Sea"
  - "Submarines"
  - "United Kingdom"
tags:
  - "Gibraltar"
  - "HMS Ambush"
  - "Mishaps"
  - "Royal Navy"
  - "SSNs"
  - "Subs"
---

# Check Out The Huge Dent In HMS Ambush

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-twz/content/archive-images/gettyimages-578243240a1.jpg>)
*www.twz.com*

HMS *Ambush*, one of the Royal Navy’s newest nuclear fast attack submarines (SSN), collided with a commercial tanker off the coast of Gibraltar. The resulting damage was not superficial; a big dent has been made in her conning tower and will require significant repairs.

![ap\_16203400832236a.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/ap_16203400832236a.jpg>)
*The HMS *Ambush* puts back to port with a huge dent in her conning tower., *AP**

The *Astute* class of SSNs are some of the most advanced submarines ever put to sea, and they aren’t cheap. The first three boasts in the class, of which *Ambush* is the middle child, cost $2.4 billion each. If it cost a lot to build, it isn’t cheap to fix.

Ambush being put out of action for considerable time will be a blow to the Royal Navy’s relatively tiny fast attack submarine force, which is made up of just seven boats total (three *Astute* class plus four older *Trafalgar* class).

The event occurred last Wednesday at 1:30 PM when *Ambush* was executing a surfacing drill as part of the extremely challenging [Submarine Commander Course](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_Command_Course>), ominously nicknamed “The Perisher.” It is unknown if a trainee was commanding the sub at the exact time the incident occurred. She made it back to port under her own power, and a plan is coming together to move her, presumably back to the UK, for repairs.

The good news is that no lives were lost in the mishap. Submarines are built very tough, as they have to sustain the high pressures while operating deep below the waves. As such, they are repairable, with even entire bow sections being [transplanted from one nuclear submarine to another](<https://www.twz.com/4349/watch-a-nuclear-fast-attack-submarine-dive-and-surface-like-never-before.md>) in the past.

![astute\_class.jpg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/astute_class.jpg>)
**Astute* class cutaway., *BAE Systems**

As for her Skipper, we will have to wait and see if his career is as repairable as *Ambush’s* conning tower.

*Contact the author Tyler@thedrive.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel>)