Ambush, the second of the Royal Navy’s new Astute class submarines, was officially named in Barrow-in-Furness on 16 December 2010, although a technical fault with the lifting equipment prevented her being rolled out from the Devonshire Dock Hall for the ceremony.
The 97m vessel later emerged at the rate of one metre a minute on 19 December and was lowered into the water the following day. Ambush will remain at the Cumbrian shipyard until sea trials planned for late 2011.
Progress on Boat three (Artful) is now well advanced following the integration of the Command Deck Module and the final butt weld to form a complete hull. Construction of the major steelwork for fourth in class (Audacious) continues after her keel was laid in 2009. Building has also begun on Boat 5 (Agamemnon), whilst long lead items, including the reactor core, have been ordered for Boat 6 (Anson). The intention to build a seventh and final submarine, to be named Ajax, was confirmed in October 2010.
