ROYAL Navy Submariners recently welcomed their loved ones to their workplace when HMS Ambush held a families’ day at HM Naval Base Clyde.
The Astute class vessel – one of five currently in service with the Royal Navy and base-ported at HMNB Clyde – opened her hatches and welcomed over 120 family members onboard for a guided tour.
Commander Chris Bate, Commanding Officer of HMS Ambush, said: “HMS Ambush is one of the most sophisticated and advanced submarines in the world, however it cannot operate without a team of highly skilled personnel.”
“Hosting our families onboard provides a unique opportunity for the crew to illustrate to loved ones, life onboard a submarine, giving them a better understanding of the professionalism required and why, we, as submariners feel such a sense of pride.
It is also a chance to say thank you to our families, whose support is vital in maintaining the morale of personnel onboard.”
This is the first time in a few years that it has been possible to bring families on to the Naval Base and give them some insight into how their loved ones spend their time at work.
As well as been shown where the submariners eat, sleep and live while they are deployed, they were also shown some of the sophisticated equipment onboard including sonar and optronics systems in the control room. The crew members tried to take their families through ‘a day in the life’ of a submariner and wannabe submariners could even try a submarine escape suit for size during the tour.
Chief Petty Officer Gregory was delighted to be able to show his family round the submarine.
He said: “This is a great opportunity to show my family where we work, giving an insight into what we do and a small way of saying thank you for the support they provide to us whilst we are deployed”
The Astute-class submarines are the largest, most advanced, and most powerful attack submarines ever operated by the Royal Navy and they travel all over the globe, taking part in training serials with our allies and keeping all of us safe. Just recently, HMS Audacious returned to HMNB Clyde from a record-breaking patrol.
HMS Ambush was launched on January 5, 2011 and arrived at her homeport of HM Naval Base Clyde for the first time in September 2012. All seven of the Astute class boats will eventually be based on the Clyde.
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