Oberon Class Overseas Patrol Submarines

These boats were a further improvement on the Porpoise class. The construction of the casing was of a glass fibre and alloy except in the case of the Otter which was reinforced with steel which allowed her to carry out the role of 'Target Boat'.

They were classed as the finest conventional submarine in the world during their existence. The class were fitted with Mk24 Tigerfish torpedoes in 1970 and they were all refitted with the Type 2007 flank array replacing the Type 186.

They were given a reprieve in the late 1980's when fitted with the Type 2051 sonar and given the capabilities of firing the Tigerfish torpedo as well as the Sub-Harpoon missile.

The last of the 'O's (Oppossum) paid off in 1993.

13 Built

Submarine	Builder	Built
Oberon Ocelot Odin Olympus Onslaught Onyx Opportune Opossum Oracle Orpheus Osiris Otter Otus	H. M. Dockyard, Chatham. H. M. Dockyard, Chatham. Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead. Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. H. M. Dockyard, Chatham. Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead. Scotts, Greenock. Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead. Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead. Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. Scotts, Greenock. Scotts, Greenock.	1961 1964 1962 1962 1962 1967 1964 1964 1963 1960 1964 1962 1963

Technical Information

Displacement (tons):	2,030 sf 2,400 sm
Length (ft):	295.5 oa
Breadth (ft)	26.5
Draught/Height (ft):	18
Machinery:	Two Admiralty 16VVs- ASR1 diesel engines 3680 bhp. Two electric motors 6,000 shp. Two shafts
Speed (kts):	15 sf 17 sm
Oil Supply (tons):	na
Armament:	8 x 21 inch tubes. 6 bow, 2 stern. 24 reloads.
Range:	9,000 nm at 12 kts sf
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, oa = overall, hp = horsepower, na = not available.

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HM Submarine Oberon Crest/Badge

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S09
Builder	H.M. Dockyard, Chatham.
Laid Down:	1957
Launched	1959
Commissioned:	1961
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 65 Others.
Fate:	Oberon was decommissioned on 10th October 1986. She was sold to Seaforth Ship Repairers in 1987 and scrapped in 1991.

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H.M. Submarine Ocelot
H.M. Submarine Ocelot with new type sonar dome.
H.M. Submarine Ocelot showing later version of sonar dome.

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S17
Builder	H.M. Dockyard, Chatham.
Laid Down:	1960
Launched	1962
Commissioned:	1964
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Ocelot was given a second refit when she was fitted with Type 2051 sonar suite and Type 2046 towed arra and 197 intercept. She was sold for scrapping in 1992 but was preserved as a museum at Chatham Historic Dockyard.

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HM Submarine Odin Crest/Badge

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S10
Builder	Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	1959.
Launched	1960.
Commissioned:	1962
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Sold for scrap in 1991.

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HM Submarine Olympus Crest/Badge

H.M. Submarine Olympus
HM Submarine Olympus
H.M. Submarine Olympus 1968

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S12
Builder	Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness.
Laid Down:	1960
Launched	1961
Commissioned:	1962
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	She was decommissioned on 28th July 1989 and was later sold to the Canadian Navy and has been used as a static training ship in Halifax.

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H.M. Submarine Onslaught

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S14
Builder	H. M. Dockyard, Chatham.
Laid Down:	1959
Launched	1960
Commissioned:	1962
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

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Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S21
Builder	Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	1964
Launched	1966
Commissioned:	1967
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Onyx is now in the ownership of the Warship Preservation Trust and is on public display at their site at the East Float Dock, Birkenhead, Wirral. Thanks to Wally Bennett for the above information

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H.M. Submarine Opossum
Another Opossum

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S19
Builder	Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	1961
Launched	1963
Commissioned:	1964
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

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Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S20
Builder	Scotts, Greenock.
Laid Down:	1962
Launched	1964
Commissioned:	1964
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

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Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S16
Builder	Cammell Llaird, Birkenhead.
Laid Down:	1960
Launched	1961
Commissioned:	1963
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

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HM Submarine Orpheus Crest/Badge

H.M. Submarine Orpheus in company with H.M. Submarine Sealion

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S11
Builder	Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness.
Laid Down:	1959
Launched	1959
Commissioned:	1960
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Orpheus was paid of in January 1987.

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HM Submarine Osiris Crest/Badge

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S13
Builder	Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness.
Laid Down:	1962
Launched	1962
Commissioned:	1964
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

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HM Submarine Otter Crest/Badge

H.M. Submarine Otter
Below are photographs taken during the first commission.
If anyone should recognise themselves or anyone else for that matter and are
interested in some form of reunion please contact me or telephone 01242 580841
Forrard mess photo shoot either Vigo or Opporto

Theres only one reason a STOKER would be up forrard at this time of day - note the clock and somewhat glazed looks.

Saturday morning trot movements at Guzz - just to keep your hand in.

Back alongside just in time for Tot

Three musketeers or reprobates?

The famous funnel
Some of these courtesy of Keith (Scouse) Prowse and Tony (Les) Thornton.

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S15
Builder	Scotts, Greenock.
Laid Down:	1960
Launched	1961
Commissioned:	1962
Commander:	1962 - Lt. Cdr. N. Gilbert. ???? - Lt. Cdr. R.J.F. Turner.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

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HM Submarine Otus Crest/Badge

Type:	'Attack Submarine' SSK
Class	Oberon Class
Pennant No.:	S18
Builder	Scotts, Greenock.
Laid Down:	1961
Launched	1962
Commissioned:	1963
Commander:	Not known at present.
Complement:	6 Officers and 62 Others.
Fate:	Not known at present.

H.M. Submarine Otus is now on display in Germany having been purchased from Pounds.

You can view an up to date image of her.

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Oberon Class

Overseas Patrol Submarine Later Classified as Attack Submarine (SSK)

13 Built

Technical Information

Overseas Patrol Submarine
Later Classified as Attack Submarine (SSK)