Ambush will sail to UK for repairs, Spain says

Britain’s damaged nuclear-powered submarine HMS Ambush will be repaired in the UK, according to the Spanish Government.
Spain’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in a statement late last night that it had been told by the British Government the vessel would sail to the UK for repairs.
The UK Ministry of Defence has not confirmed the development formally but the Chronicle understands the vessel is likely to sail today.
Earlier this week all torpedoes and missiles were unloaded from the submarine to prepare for its departure. Yesterday evening, personnel removed scaffolding and tarpaulin that had been erected to assess the damage.
HMS Ambush sustained external damage to its conning tower during a glancing collision with a merchant ship while submerged in international waters off Gibraltar.
There was no damage to its nuclear plant or injuries and the vessel remains seaworthy.
At the time the submarine was hosting the final month of the Submarine Command Course, a challenging exercise used to test the skills of aspiring captains.
The five-month course, known by submariners as ‘the Perisher’ because of its high failure rate, tests students’ skills and temperament to the limit and is overseen by a senior commander referred to as Teacher.
The MoD has confirmed that the UK’s Defence Safety Authority [DSA] is conducting an “independent service inquiry” into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Pic by David Parody