HMAS Onslow (S-60)

HMAS Onslow (S-60), named after the town Onslow in Western Australia, was an Oberon Class Submarine laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Greenock in Scotland on 26 May 1967. On 17 July 1968, she was slightly damaged by fire, delaying her launch until 3 December 1968. ONSLOW commissioned on 22 December 1969 and served in the 1st Submarine Squadron, based at HMAS PLATYPUS at Neutral Bay, Sydney.

The Oberon class attack submarines played a vital role protecting Australia for more than 30 years, from 1967 through to 2000. The British-designed Oberons were a product of Britain's World War II submarine experiences, and were influenced by the concepts of the German Type XXI electro-boats. Their versatility lay in their ability to be silent and invisible, to watch, listen and collect information without being seen.

In her 30 years of service with the RAN, HMAS ONSLOW clocked up more than 358,000 nautical miles and took part in many international naval exercises, represented Australia on goodwill visits around the world and with its five sister submarines - OVENS, ORION, OTAMA, OXLEY and OTWAY provided the RAN with a formidable submarine force.

During its major refit in 1982-84 and after successful test firings by HMAS OTWAY on the Pacific missile firing range in Hawaii, ONSLOW was fitted with sub-Harpoon missiles becoming the first conventionally powered (non-nuclear) submarine in the world with an anti-ship missile capability.

HMAS ONSLOW decommissioned on 29 March 1999 and is preserved at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour in Sydney.

Launched: 3 December 1968 Type: Oberon-class Submarine
Commissioned: 22 December 1969
Decommissioned: 29 March 1999
Displacement: 2,186 tonnes (Surfaced) 2,417 (Submerged) Length: 295 feet (89.9m)
Beam: 26 feet, 5 inches (8.07m) Draft: 18 feet, surfaced (5.48m)
Armament: 6 x 21-inch bow torpedo tubes capable of firing anti-ship and submarine Mk 48 torpedoes & anti-ship encapsulated UGM-84 sub-Harpoon missiles, or laying mines.
Main Machinery: 2 x 16-cylinder mechanically supercharged Admiralty Standard Range (ASR 1) diesels charging 2 x 440 V batteries (448 cells) powering two English Electric main propulsion motors driving twin shafts.
Speed: 14 knots (Surfaced); 15+ knots (submerged)
Range: 9,000 nautical miles (at 12 knots)
Diving Depth: 180m (nom maximum)
Complement: 8 officers, 60 sailors and up to 16 trainees

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