| POUNCE | Spring a surprise attack (on) |
| AMBUSH | To make a surprise attack on someone from a concealed position (6) |
| RAIDED | Made a surprise attack on (6) |
| PEARLHARBOR | The US entered WWII in 1941 after a surprise attack on this Hawaiian naval base (5,6) |
| LEAKOUT | Yob gets on topless pile to spring a surprise (4,3) |
| ASPIRING | Here's hoping I spring a surprise |
| JACKINTHEBOX | This will spring a surprise - under the car is where one finds the confessor (4-2-3-3) |
| WINDED | A step of a spiral staircase; a key or knob for coiling a clock or watch's spring; a bobbin; or, a horn blower (6) |
| AFRAID | Surprise attack on a female making one scared |
| RAID | Make a sudden surprise attack on (4) |
| WELL | An excavation giving access to oil or water; a natural mineral spring; a nautical cockpit; a lift-shaft; or, an inkpot housed in a hole in a desk (4) |
| BUSH | Historical bunch of ivy as a tavern's or vintner's sign; the wilds; or, a shrubby clump in which to lay wait in a surprise attack, for example (4) |
| ARRAYED | Ordered a surprise attack over a radio |
| SLINKY | Classic toy with the jingle lyric "a spring, a spring, a marvelous thing!" |
| PEARLHARBOUR | Surprise attack on aristocrat in pub (The Grove) (5,7) |
| AMBUSCADES | More than one surprise attack on ruined academies that is forgotten (10) |
| YAMAMOTO | Japanese naval officer who conceived of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor (last name; 8) |
| REAR | ___ guard (defense against a surprise attack, perhaps) |
| AMBUSHED | In a surprise attack, am exhausted (8) |
| ETTU | Latin phrase following a surprise attack |