Abstract: Based on a homogeneous Volume of Fluid (VOF) framework, together with the Realizable k-\varepsilon turbulence model and overset mesh technique, numerical simulations of the tail cavity during water exit of a vehicle in an ice-covered environment were conducted. In the simulations the vehicle is constrained to single-degree-of-freedom vertical translation, the ice cover is treated as a rigid fixed wall, and the ice hole is idealized as a regular through hole. The evolution of the tail cavity under different geometric parameters of the ice hole, including its diameter and shape, was further investigated. The results show that the tail cavity undergoes five stages: expansion, contraction, pinch-off, oscillation of the attached tail cavity, and collapse. The pinch-off initiates at the local necking region of the cavity near the vehicle bottom, and the necking process is dominated by liquid inertia and exhibits self-similar evolution. The ice hole has a relatively minor effect on the evolution of the tail cavity before pinch-off, while its primary influence occurs during the collapse stage. The ice-hole boundary restricts the radial motion of the free surface, causing the wake surge to transition from free radial spreading to preferential axial development. The geometric parameters of the ice hole further regulate the spatial evolution of the wake surge. A decrease in ice-hole diameter enhances the boundary confinement, thereby increasing the degree of axial concentration of the wake surge and the peak jet velocity. Changes in ice-hole shape alter the motion direction and spatial symmetry of the wake surge. The circular ice hole imposes stronger directional confinement on the jet, whereas the wake surge under regular hexagonal and regular octagonal ice holes is more likely to develop along the axial direction and impinge on the vehicle bottom. These results provide a reference for investigating the hydrodynamic characteristics of vehicles emerging from water in ice-covered environments.