HMAS Onslow

HMAS Onslow was one of six Oberon-class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The submarine was named after the town of Onslow, Western Australia, and Sir Alexander Onslow, the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Onslow was decommissioned in 1999 and was presented to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where she is preserved as a museum ship.

Submarines were first used with significant impact during World War I (1914–1918), and are now used by most navies. Military uses include attacking enemy ships, protection of vessels, blockade running, nuclear strike force, reconnaissance, land attack, and covert special operations. Civilian applications for submarines include science, salvage, exploration and facilities maintenance. Submarines are also increasingly being used in tourism and undersea archaeology.

Oberon-class Submarine

The Oberon class was designed as a direct follow-on from the Porpoise-class, and a total of 27 British-designed submarines were operated by five different nations. Thirteen of these submarines were run by the Royal Navy, six by the Royal Australian Navy, three by the Brazilian Navy, three by the Royal Canadian Navy and two by the Chilean Navy.

The Oberon-class submarines operated during the height of the Cold War, with duties including surveillance, tracking, special forces operations and as targets for anti-submarine training. This class of submarine serviced until 2000, and at least eight of the subs have been preserved as museum vessels across the globe.

Exploring Shipwrecks & Maritime Museums

HMAS Onslow

Exhibit: HMAS Onslow (SS 60/SSG 60)
Namesake: Town of Onslow, Western Australia
Builder: Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering, Greenock, Scotland
Commissioned: 1969
Decommissioned: 1999
Motto: Festina Lente; Latin “Hasten Slowly”
Status: Museum ship
Class and type: Oberon-class submarine
Displacement: 2,030 tons surfaced; 2,410 tons submerged
Length: 295.2 ft (90.0 m)
Beam: 26.5 ft (8.1 m)
Draught: 18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion:
- 2 × Admiralty Standard Range supercharged V16 diesel generators
- 2 × English Electric motors
- 3,500 bhp, 4,500 shp
- Two shafts
Speed:
- 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
- 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) submerged
- 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) at snorkel depth
Range: 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi)
Test depth: 200 metres (660 ft)
Complement: 8 officers, 56 – 60 sailors
Museum: Australian National Maritime Museum