Submarine Heritage Centre

Registered Address:

53 Red Oak Avenue

Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria, LA13 OLJ, UK

Tel: 01229 820993

The Oberon Class of submarines built for the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1964 were a class of 13 Diesel Electric Boats, the first of class Oberon, Pennant No. S09, being built at HM Dockyard Chatham in 1959. They were capable of high underwater speeds, had improved detection equipment over the Porpoise Class and were able to maintain continuous submerged patrols in any part of the world, armed with homing torpedoes.

Before and abaft the bridge, glass reinforced plastic was used for the superstructure for the first time. The Oberon Class were acknowledged as the quietest submarines of their day and are considered the classic submarine of their era.

HMS Onyx S21 was constructed at Cammel Laird shipbuilders in Birkenhead. She was originally ordered by the Royal Canadian Navy and was launched in August 1966. Onyx was comissioned into service with the Royal Navy in 1967.

HMS Onyx was the only non-nuclear powered submarine to take part in the Falklands War, where she was used in shallow water to land troops.

In 1991 Onyx was decommissioned from the Navy, she was then on public display in Birkenhead as part of the Warship Preservation Trust.

HMS Onyx Facts...

Group Oberon 2

Laid down November 16th 1964

Launched August 18th 1964

Completed November 20th 1967

1610 tons std/2030 tons surfaced/ 2410 tons submerged displacement

Dimensions 295.25ft overall, 241ft pp x 26.5 x 18ft

Machinery 2 Admiralty Standard Range 1, 16VMS Diesels: 3680 hp; 2 Electric Motors; 6000shp; 2 shafts

click here to see Onyx's Penant ...

More on Onyx details soon...

Tony Salter-Ellis for the Submarine Heritage Centre - Barrow		Printer Friendly Version

	© 2006 Submarine Heritage Centre Limited		\| Contact Us \| Email Us \| Back to the Top \|
The Submarine Heritage Centre is a Registered Charity No. 1088820