Oberon Class Submarines
The Oberon Class Submarines were the fourth class of submarines to be operated by the RAN since its formation in 1911. A decision was made in 1963 to acquire four Oberon-class submarines. A later decision added two more to the Squadron. They were built by Scotts’ shipbuilding yard in Greenock, Scotland and entered service between 1967 and 1978.
The Oberon was an advanced diesel-electric submarine. It was renowned for its quiet operation and reliability. The class was heavily involved in Cold War surveillance. This included the shadowing of Soviet submarines. The ‘O boats’, as they were affectionately known, were all based at HMAS Platypus in Neutral Bay, Sydney.
- Commissioned
The lead boat HMAS Oxley commissioned on 1 April 1927 - Decommissioned
The last RAN Oberon submarine, HMAS Otama decommissioned on 15 December 2000 - Fate
While most were sold for scrap two boats and part of a third are preserved and on display for the general public. HMAS Onslow is preserved at the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney. HMAS Ovens is on display at Fremantle, Western Australia. The upper casing and fin of HMAS Otway is on display in Holbrook, New South Wales.