Dates: 1973 - 1993
H.M.S. Ambuscade
To ‘ambuscade’ is to lie in ambush and so the motto of H.M.S. Ambuscade is particularly apt - Tempori insidior which means ‘I bide my time.’
H.M.S. Ambuscade (F172) was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland she was laid down on the 1st of September 1971 and launched 18th January 1973.
She took part in the Falklands War and by the mid-1980s was suffering from cracking in her hull. She was taken in for refitting, with a steel plate being welded down each side of the ship. At the same time modifications were made to reduce hull noise. Exocet launchers were also added in ’B’ position and 3" launchers relocated to 02 deck midships.
On 28th July 1993 H.M.S Ambuscade was decommissioned and sold to Pakistan, being renamed P.N.S. Tariq. Exocet was not transferred to Pakistan and Tariq had her obsolete Sea Cat launcher removed. A quadruple Harpoon missile launcher was fitted in place of the Exocet launchers and a Phalanx CIWS was fitted in place of the Sea Cat launcher. SRBOC chaff launchers and 20 mm and 30 mm guns were fitted.
P.N.S. Tariq remains in service with the Pakistan Navy.
Eight Royal Navy ships have borne the name H.M.S. Ambuscade below is a short introduction to the other seven vessels.
H.M.S. Ambuscade was a 40-gun fifth-rate, formerly the French ship Embuscade, captured in 1746. She fought off Cape Finisterre, captured the privateer Vainqueen and fought with Boscawen against de la Clue off Lagos. She was sold at Deptford in 1762.
H.M.S. Ambuscade was a 32-gun fifth-rate launched in 1773, captured by the French in 1798 and called Embuscade and recaptured by the British in 1803. She was broken up in 1810.
H.M.S. Ambuscade was a 40-gun French fifth-rate called Embuscade,, which was captured by the Royal Navy in 1799. She was renamed H.M.S. Seine when the previous Ambuscade was recaptured in 1803. She was broken up in 1813.
H.M.S. Ambuscade was a 38-gun French fifth-rate called Pomone which was captured by the Royal Navy in 1811. She was broken up in 1812.
H.M.S. Ambuscade was originally laid down in 1830 as a fifth-rate, but was renamed H.M.S. Amphion before finally being launched in 1846 as the first Royal Navy steam-powered frigate.
H.M.S. Ambuscade, launched in 1913, was an Acasta-class destroyer that served in World War I and was scrapped in 1921.
H.M.S. Ambuscade (D38), launched in 1926, was a prototype destroyer which served in the Second World War and was sold for scrap in 1946.
Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Ambuscade
" hi im looking to trace brian as ongoing family enquires. i know he was a radar plotter on the ark royal till he moved to hms ambuscade as petty officer in july 1978 does anyone know him or his wife of the ime ? can anyone help nickiscorpio@hotmail.com please help thanx"
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" To anyone who served on the HMS Ambuscade during her 1988 West Indies Tour. If you happen to keep in touch with Philip Preece or Mark Tinker will you please tell them I am trying to reach them! I can be reached by email at kathleenminer@live.ca. Cheers! Last edited by Kathleen MinerBray"
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" During 2 of my tours in Belize, I was attached for some time to some RN ships who were on Caribbean patrol. In 1979 I was attached to HMS Ambuscade, Brighton and Jupiter and spent a week on transfer on the RFA Cherryleaf. I had a fantastic time and was well looked after, being 1 of only 2 ..."
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" Quoting: John Williams Ian; Its a shame you were never in the RN. Its quite obvious a spell in the RN would have taught you how to sling a hammock. Re your Avatar. If you tried to sleep in a hammock slung like that you would wake up in the morning with a bad back. Or Worse. ..."
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