RN Subs

Ambush (P 418)

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In 1948 she took part in trials of the Schnorkel - a device that allows a submarine to operate submerged while still taking in air from above the surf ace. It was invented by the Dutch shortly before the Second World War and was copied by the Germans during the war for use by U-Boats. Its common name is snort.

In March 1948 HMS Ambush returned to Port Edgar, Firth of Forth, following an extensive period in the Arctic. Using her 'snort' mast she was able to remain submerged for most of the five week patrol. The Commanding Officer (Lt-Cdr A G Davies DSC) said they encountered some of the worst weather he had known in his eleven years at sea.

In 1951 HMS Ambush heard and decoded a distress message from HMS Affray, which was sunk with the ultimate loss of all 75 hands on April 17 in 1951.

HMS Ambush was one of the founder members of the 6th Submarine Flotilla formed on 15th Mar 1955, based at Halifax, Nova Scotia. She remained in Canadian waters until she returned to Portsmouth in June 1956.

During 1956/57 the Submarine underwent an extensive Refit and modernisation in Chatham Dockyard. This Refit involved streamlining the hull to improve the silent speed of the submarine, including fitting a tall enclosed fin around the masts and periscopes and removing four torpedo tubes (two forward and two aft). Provision was also made for a portable gun to be fitted, if required for particular service.

Following this Refit HMS Ambush served at home until sailing from Portsmouth on 9th Oct 1959 for Singapore, via the Suez Canal and Aden, to join the newly formed 10th Submarine Squadron. HMS Ambush remained in the Far East until she returned to the UK on 12th Nov 1967. She was reduced to Reserve in Portsmouth in 1969.

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