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

                                                         

History Continued  -4-

 

 

         1 July - 2 October 1970 : In home waters visiting Dartmouth, Swansea, Devonport, Portland exercise area, Portsmouth

           (docking and essential repairs 24 August - 14 September),

            Portland exercise area (again) and Portsmouth.

            2 - 7 October 1970: Visited Halsingborg, Sweden with HMS/m OCELOT.

            10 - 30 October 1970 : Portsmouth.

            31 October - 4 November 1970 : Plymouth/Portland areas.

            4 November 1970 : Portsmouth.

            12 November 1970: HMS/m's OPOSSUM, ORACLE, ARTEMIS and ACHERON entered Latchford Lock, Warrington on their way up the Manchester Ship Canal

            to pay a courtesy visit to Manchester. They were opened to the public at Trafford Wharf.

            18 November 4 December 1970 : In home waters visiting Plymouth exercise area, Plymouth and Portsmouth.

            2 January 1971: Departed from Portsmouth.

            4- 13 January 1971: Commenced 'EXERCISE VENDETTA'  with HMS/m's ORACLE, CACHALOT, OCELOT, WARSPITE, NARWHAL, ONYX and AURIGA.

            16 January 1971: Portsmouth.

            20 - 25 January 1971 : Visited Oostende.

            26 January 1971: Portland.

            29 January 1971: Portsmouth.

            1 - 5 February 1971: Plymouth exercise area.

            3 February 1971 : Lt.Cmdr. RC Meyrick collapsed while his submarine HMS/m OPOSSUM was submerging during exercises.

           The submarine surfaced immediately and the assault ship HMS 'Fearless' which was also taking part in the exercises was diverted and a helicopter took its

            medical officer to OPOSSUM. A heart specialist from the Stonehouse Naval Hospital boarded the submarine at the breakwater. He gave Commander Meyrick

            heart massage but on arrival at hospital the Commander was dead.

            5 February 1971: Portsmouth.

            22 March 1971 - 7 January 1972 : In home waters visiting Clyde exercise area, Portland, Manchester, Dartmouth, Portland exercise area,

            Plymouth exercise area and Portsmouth.

            7- 17 January 1972: Commenced 'EXERCISE VENDETTA'  with HMS/m's OSIRIS, AENEAS, OCELOT and DREADNOUGHT.

            18 January 1972: Campbeltown.

            20 January 1972: Portsmouth.

            14 - 17 February 1972: Portland.

            18 - 22 February 1972: Le Havre, France.

            23 February 1972: Plymouth exercise area.

            24 February 1972: Portsmouth.

            6 March 1972 : Biscay area.

            8 - 17 March 1972 : In home waters visiting Portland exercise areas, Dartmouth and Portsmouth.

            19 April 1972: Departed from Portsmouth.

            24 April 1972: Arrived in Gibraltar.

            30 June - 4 July 1972 : Visited Agadir, Morocco.

            8 July 1972 : Portsmouth. 10 - 12 July 1972 : Portland. 12 July 1972 : Portsmouth.

            10 August 1972 : Departed from Portsmouth.

            11 - 15 August 1972 : Visited Den Helder, Netherlands.

            17 August 1972 : Plymouth exercise areas.

            18 - 22 August 1972 : Visited Nantes, France.

            23 August - 27 November 1972 : In home waters visiting Plymouth exercise areas, Chatham, Falmouth, Dartmouth, Portland areas and Portsmouth.

            27 November 1972 : At Chatham for refit.

            9 August 1974 : Refit completed.

            10 August 1974 : Portsmouth, defects. Faslane (Date unknown).

            9 December 1974 : Portsmouth for docking and repairs.

            19 January 1975 : Docking and repairs completed.

            15 February 1975 : Departed from Portsmouth. 17 - 19 February 1975: North Sea exercise areas.

            19 - 27 February 1975 : Commenced JMC 751 with HMS/m ONSLAUGHT, 4 Frigates,

            2 Guided Missile Destroyers, 1 Mine Countermeasures, 1 Fast Patrol Boat and the Destroyer HMCS 'Algonquin' from the Royal Canadian Navy,

           Atlantic Maritime Command.

 

Page 4