HMS Ambuscade (F172)

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Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	1 September 1971
Launched:	18 January 1973
Commissioned:	5 September 1975
Decommissioned:	28 July 1993
Fate:	Sold to Pakistan on 28 July 1993.
Struck:
General Characteristics
Displacement:	3,250 tons full load
Length:	384 ft (117 m)
Beam:	41 ft 9 in (12.7 m)
Draught:	19 ft 6 in (5.9 m)
Propulsion:	Two Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines, plus two Rolls-Royce RM1A Tyne gas turbines for cruising
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h)
Range:	4,000 nautical miles at 17 knots (7,400 km at 31 km/h), 1,200 nautical miles at 30 knots (2,220 km at 56 km/h)
Complement:	177
Armament:	One Mk8 4.5 inch (110 mm) gun Two Oerlikon 20 mm guns Four SeaCat SAMs Two Corvus chaff launchers One Type 182 towed decoy
Aircraft:	One Westland Wasp when built, refitted later for one Westland Lynx
Motto:	Tempori insidior (I bide my time)

HMS Ambuscade (F172) was a Type 21 frigate of the Royal Navy. Ambuscade 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.

Ambuscade decommissioned and was sold to Pakistan on 28 July 1993, being renamed 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.

Tariq remains in service with the Pakistani Navy.

See HMS Ambuscade for other ships of the same name.

Type 21 frigate

Amazon | Antelope | Active | Ambuscade | Arrow | Alacrity | Ardent | Avenger

List of frigates of the Royal Navy