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Britain's most advanced attack submarine, Ambush, has officially joined the Royal Navy fleet on the Clyde following a commissioning ceremony held earlier today.
HMS Ambush Commanding Officer Peter Green said: "The crew are immensely proud to mark the commissioning and to see the culmination of many months of hard work readying HMS Ambush for service with the Royal Navy.
"The crew are looking forward to the challenges ahead and to exploring the full range of the submarine's capabilities before she enters full operational service later this year."
Admiral Stanhope, known as the First Sea Lord, said: "These vessels represent the cutting edge of military technology and the future of UK submarine operations for many years to come. The Astute-class vessels will contribute significantly to our mission of protecting the UK's interests worldwide."
Ambush, the second of the Navy's Astute-class attack submarines, was launched in January 2011 at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
The £1.6bn nuclear-powered submarine arrived at the HM Naval Base Clyde in September last year, where the vessel has been undergoing sea trials before entering operational service later this year.
The Astute-class submarines are designed for coastal and deep sea tasks and are capable of destroying submarines and surface ships.
The tradition of the commissioning ceremony dates to the time when Britain had no standing navy. Any merchant ship sailing under the English flag could be called upon to fight.
Henry VIII was the first monarch to provide a permanent fleet of ships and these were commissioned as they entered service.
All seven of the Astute class submarines will eventually be based on the Clyde.
