What does the cryptic crossword clue "Surprise attack clipped trainee soldier on American vehicle (9)" mean?

The definition is "Surprise". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). AM (synonym="AM") + BUS (synonym="BUS") + CADE (synonym="CADE") = AMBUSCADE; definition: "Surprise attack" The answer is AMBUSCADE.

Surprise attack clipped trainee soldier on American vehicle (9)

Guardian Cryptic #29532 | 9 Across | 2024-11-05 flower

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