[9] The submarine is capable of using Tomahawk Block IV land-attack missiles with a range of 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres)[10] and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes.

In May 2013, she carried out berthing trials with forward support ship RFA Diligence[16] and, in August 2013, she successfully conducted her first live torpedo and cruise missile firings.

[17] In October 2014, Ambush completed a maiden deployment to the United States and Brazil, visiting Florida's Port Canaveral along the way and taking part in the centenary celebrations of the Brazilian submarine force.

[22] On 20 July 2016, while surfacing on an exercise in the Strait of Gibraltar, Ambush collided with the Panama-flagged merchant ship Andreas, sustaining significant damage to the top of her conning tower where some of her sonar equipment is housed.

[23][24][25][26] Repairs cost £2.1 million and the commander, who was training a group of students at the time, was sentenced to forfeiting a year of seniority for negligently hazarding the vessel.