H.M.S. Opossum. ‘Oberon-Class’ Submarine.

(Thanks to Sam Edgar for supplying the following historical information)

Pennant Number:    S19

 

Badge :  An Opossum suspended by his tail from a tree trunk all proper.    Crest:  Field : White.

 

Built By: Cammell Laird and Co Ltd, Birkenhead.

 

Laid Down:  21 December 1961.     Launched:  23 May 1963. Commissioned:  29 February 1964.  Decommissioned: June 1993.

 

Displacement:   2030 Tons Surfaced.   2400 Tons submerged,         Dimensions:    Length:  295 ft. 3 in.   Beam: 26 ft. 6 in.    Mean Draught:  18 ft.

Crew:  6 Officers.    62 Ratings.

                              Propulsion:    2 x Sets Admiralty Standard Range Diesel Engines developing 3680 BHP     

                 Armament:       Eight  21-inch  Six Bow and Two stern torpedo tubes (for Homing Torpedoes).

         2 x Sets Electric Motors developing 6000 S.H.P. 

        Twin Screws.

                                                          Range:  9000  Nautical miles at 12 Knots.

                                                       Max Speed:      15 Knots Surfaced.  17 Knots Submerged.

Commanding Officers:

                                      Lt.Cmdr. W. L Owen (29 Feb 1964);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. B. R Trussler (16 Aug 1965);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. M. J Osborne (16  Apr 1968);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. R. C Meyrick (12 Nov 1969 - 3 Feb 1971);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. J. J. S Daniel (4 Feb 1971);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. M. C Boyce (14 Jan 974);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. J. McLees (26 Jul 1975);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. C. L Wreford-Brown (10 Sept 1976);

                                      Lt. A. M Poulter (11 Aug 1977);

                                      Lt. T. J Austin (20 Jan 1979):.

                                      Lt.Cmdr. E. R Ruscombe-King (28 Apr 1980);

                                      Lt.Cmdr. D. R Charlton (  ); 

History:-

 

       Joined the 1st Submarine Squadron, HMS DOLPHIN 1964.

        11 April 1964: Sea trials began at Rothesay.

        12 June 1964: Accepted into the Royal Navy.

        18 June 1964: Sailed for Clyde - work-up. Estimated time of departure from Clyde,

        12 August 1964: Estimated time of arrival in Portsmouth,

        14 August 1964: Estimated time of departure from Portsmouth,

        10 September : For Cape Wrath and 'EXERCISE TEAMWORK' with HMS/m's FINWHALE, DREADNOUGHT, OSIRIS.

        GRAMPUS. TOTEM. OTUS, RORQUAL, ALARIC and ONSLAUGHT,

        8 Minesweepers, 11 Coastal Minesweepers, 7 Escorts and 7 Frigates.

        Estimated time of departure from Cape Wrath 2 October 1964.

        Estimated time of arrival in Portsmouth 5 October 1964 for repairs.

      Estimated time of departure from Portsmouth 13 October 1964.

      14 - 15 October 1964: Portland. 

        17 - 22 October 1964: Visited Emden, Germany.

        23 October 1964 : Portsmouth.

        26 October - 27 November 1964 : Maintenance. thence Londonderry for exercises.

        7 December 1964 : Departed Londonderry for Portsmouth.

        11 January 1965 : Special equipment fitted at Portsmouth.

       

 
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