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| {|{{Infobox Ship Begin}} | {|{{Infobox Ship Begin}} | ||
| {{Infobox Ship Image | {{Infobox Ship Image | ||
| |Ship image=] | |Ship image=] | ||
| |Ship caption=HMS ''Opossum'' returning to ], Gosport, following combat operations in the Gulf War (1990–91) | |Ship caption=HMS ''Opossum'' returning to ], Gosport, following combat operations in the Gulf War (1990–91) | ||
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| '''HMS ''Opossum'' (S19)''' was an ] ] in service with the ] from 1964 to 1993. | '''HMS ''Opossum'' (S19)''' was an ] ] in service with the ] from 1964 to 1993. | ||
| == |
== Design and construction== | ||
| ''Opossum'' was the ] ] boat ] by the Royal ]. She was built by ] ] at ] and launched on 23 May 1963. She was commissioned on 5 June 1964. | ''Opossum'' was the ] ] boat ] by the Royal ]. She was built by ] ] at ] and launched on 23 May 1963. She was commissioned on 5 June 1964. | ||
| ''Opossum'' was originally armed with ] and later with ] torpedoes. The class was also capable of firing the ]. | ''Opossum'' was originally armed with ] and later with ] torpedoes. The class was also capable of firing the ]. | ||
| ==Operational history== | |||
| In 1990, ''Opossum'' took part in the ] celebrations at ], marking the occasion with a two day visit in September.<ref name="Pitcairn"></ref> | In 1990, ''Opossum'' took part in the ] celebrations at ], marking the occasion with a two day visit in September.<ref name="Pitcairn"></ref> | ||
| ''Otus'' was deployed to the ] during the 1991 ] under ]. On her return to Gosport, she was ]; the only indication that the submarine had been involved in deploying and recovering ] and ] personnel.<ref name=RichardsSmith11>{{cite journal |last=Richards |first=Bill |coauthors=Smith, Peter |date=December 2006 |title=Onslow's Jolly Roger |journal=Signals |publisher=Australian National Maritime Museum |issue=77 |pages=10–12 |issn=1033-4688 |page=11}}</ref><ref name=Oliver>{{cite news|last=Oliver|first=Sarah|title=Return of the Triumph: With the skull and crossbones flying defiantly at its mast, submarine that launched attack on Gaddafi comes home |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372804/Return-Triumph-With-skull-crossbones-flying-defiantly-mast-submarine-launched-attack-Gaddafi-comes-home.html |accessdate=16 January 2014 |newspaper=Daily Mail Online |date=2 April}}</ref> | |||
| ''Opossum'' served during the ] and inserted ] ] teams into ] and occupied ]. In May 1991 she returned to ] in traditional Far East camouflage colours (] and ]). She was seen to be flying the ], the RN submariner's symbol of a successful war patrol.<ref name="gulfunits"></ref><ref name="gulfhnsard"></ref> | |||
| On |
On 14 July 1993, ''Opossum'' (which was travelling on the surface at the time) collided with the fishing vessel ''Amber Rose'' off the coast of Scotland.<ref>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-01-18/Writtens-6.html |house=House of Commons |date=18 January 1994 |column=506 |speaker=] |position=]}}</ref> | ||
| ==Fate== | |||
| == HMS Opossum Association == | |||
| On paying off in 1993, the nameplate from HMS ''Opossum'' was given to St Edmundsbury council in commemoration of the submarine's association with the town of ].<ref>{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom |url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-10-27/Writtens-1.html |house=House of Commons |date=27 October 1994 |column_start=739 |column_end=740 |speaker= |position=}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | The '''HMS Opossum Association''' is the veterans association for those who served on HMS ''Opossum''. The association's members include submariners |
||
| ⚫ | The '''HMS Opossum Association''' is the veterans association for those who served on HMS ''Opossum''. The association's members include submariners, and earlier veterans who served on the ]/] {{HMS|Opossum|U33}}. | ||
| ==Commanding Officers== | |||
| {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" | |||
| !From||To|||Captain | |||
| |- | |||
| |1974||1976|||Lieutenant Commander ] RN | |||
| |- | |||
| |1977||1977|||Lieutenant Commander ] RN | |||
| |- | |||
| |1979||1979||| | |||
| |- | |||
| |} | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 01:43, 18 January 2014
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Opossum.| File:HMSOpossum3.jpgHMS Opossum returning to RN submarine base HMS Dolphin, Gosport, following combat operations in the Gulf War (1990–91) | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 UK | |
| Name | HMS Opossum |
| Builder | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead |
| Laid down | 21 December 1961 |
| Launched | 23 May 1963 |
| Commissioned | 5 June 1964 |
| Decommissioned | August 1993 |
| Fate | Paid off for disposal |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Oberon-class submarine |
| Displacement | list error: <br /> list (help) 2,030 tons surfaced 2,400 tons submerged |
| Length | 295 ft 3 in (89.99 m) |
| Beam | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) |
| Draught | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 2 diesels 3,680 bhp (2,744 kW) 2 electric motors of 6,000 shp 2 shafts |
| Speed | list error: <br /> list (help) 15 knots (28 km/h) surfaced 17 knots (31 km/h) submerged |
| Range | 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Complement | 68 (6 officers, 62 petty officers and ratings) |
| Armament | 8 × 21 inch torpedo tubes (6 bow, 2 stern) |
HMS Opossum (S19) was an Oberon-class submarine in service with the Royal Navy from 1964 to 1993.
Design and construction
Opossum was the eleventh Oberon-class boat commissioned by the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird shipbuilder at Birkenhead and launched on 23 May 1963. She was commissioned on 5 June 1964.
Opossum was originally armed with Mk 8 torpedoes and later with Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedoes. The class was also capable of firing the Harpoon anti-ship missile.
Operational history
In 1990, Opossum took part in the bicentennial celebrations at Pitcairn Island, marking the occasion with a two day visit in September.
Otus was deployed to the Persian Gulf during the 1991 Gulf War under Operation Granby. On her return to Gosport, she was flying a Jolly Roger; the only indication that the submarine had been involved in deploying and recovering Special Air Service and Special Boat Service personnel.
On 14 July 1993, Opossum (which was travelling on the surface at the time) collided with the fishing vessel Amber Rose off the coast of Scotland.
Fate
On paying off in 1993, the nameplate from HMS Opossum was given to St Edmundsbury council in commemoration of the submarine's association with the town of Bury St. Edmunds.
The HMS Opossum Association is the veterans association for those who served on HMS Opossum. The association's members include submariners, and earlier veterans who served on the sloop/frigate HMS Opossum (U33).
References
- Bicentenary Celebrations
- Richards, Bill (December 2006). "Onslow's Jolly Roger". Signals (77). Australian National Maritime Museum: 11. ISSN 1033-4688.
{{cite journal}}: More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Oliver, Sarah (2 April). "Return of the Triumph: With the skull and crossbones flying defiantly at its mast, submarine that launched attack on Gaddafi comes home". Daily Mail Online. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Jeremy Hanley, Minister of State for the Armed Forces (18 January 1994). http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-01-18/Writtens-6.html. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 506.
{{cite book}}:|chapter-url=missing title (help) - http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-10-27/Writtens-1.html. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. 27 October 1994. col. 739–740.
{{cite book}}:|chapter-url=missing title (help)
External links
| Oberon-class submarines | |
|---|---|
| Royal Navy | |
| Royal Australian Navy | |
| Brazilian Navy | |
| Royal Canadian Navy | |
| Chilean Navy | |
| |