HMS Opportune (S20)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Opportune |
| Builder | Scotts, Greenock |
| Yard number | 693 |
| Laid down | 26 October 1962 |
| Launched | 14 February 1964 |
| Commissioned | 29 December 1964 |
| Decommissioned | 2 June 1993 |
| Fate | Paid off |
| General characteristics as designed | |
| Class and type | Oberon class |
| Displacement |
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| Length |
|
| Beam | 26.5 feet (8.1 m) |
| Draught | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
|
| Complement | 68 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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HMS Opportune (S20) was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Navy.
Design and construction[edit]
The Oberon class was a direct follow on of the Porpoise-class, with the same dimensions and external design, but updates to equipment and internal fittings, and a higher grade of steel used for fabrication of the pressure hull.[1]
As designed for British service, the Oberon-class submarines were 241 feet (73 m) in length between perpendiculars and 295.2 feet (90.0 m) in length overall, with a beam of 26.5 feet (8.1 m), and a draught of 18 feet (5.5 m).[2] Displacement was 1,610 tons standard, 2,030 tons full load when surfaced, and 2,410 tons full load when submerged.[2] Propulsion machinery consisted of 2 Admiralty Standard Range 16 VMS diesel generators, and two 3,000 shaft horsepower (2,200 kW) electric motors, each driving a 7-foot diameter (2.1 m) 3-bladed propeller at up to 400 rpm.[2] Top speed was 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) when submerged, and 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface.[2] Eight 21-inch (530 mm) diameter torpedo tubes were fitted (six facing forward, two aft), with a total payload of 24 torpedoes.[2] The boats were fitted with Type 186 and Type 187 sonars, and an I-band surface search radar.[2] The standard complement was 68: 6 officers, 62 sailors.[2]
Opportune was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company on 26 October 1962, and launched on 14 February 1964.[2] The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 29 December 1964.[2]
Operational history[edit]
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On 15 February 1967, Opportune was in collision with sister submarine Orpheus when Opportune was leaving Portsmouth harbour as Orpheus was entering at night and in heavy weather, with only minor damage caused. Orpheus's commanding officer was found guilty of hazarding his vessel and was reprimanded.[3][4][5] In 1971, Opportune collided with a merchant ship, causing damage to the upper front part of the fin as well as both periscopes.[6]
Opportune attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla.[7]
Decommissioning and fate[edit]
Opportune was paid off on 2 June 1993.[citation needed] For several years the vessel resided at Pounds scrapyard in Portsmouth.[8][9]
Every year since the vessel was scrapped, senior rates from the boat have annually met together to celebrate their service and life on the boat.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Chant, Christopher (2005). Submarine Warfare Today: The World's Deadliest Underwater Weapons Systems. Wigston: Silverdale Books. p. [page needed]. ISBN 1-84509-158-2. OCLC 156749009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Moore, John, ed. (1977). Jane's Fighting Ships 1977-78. Jane's Fighting Ships (80th ed.). London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 490. ISBN 0531032779. OCLC 18207174.
- ^ "Submarines in Collision". The Times. No. 56868. 17 February 1967. p. 1.
- ^ "Submarine CO cleared". The Times. No. 56915. 14 April 1967. p. 4.
- ^ "Reprimand of officer". The Times. No. 56918. 18 April 1967. p. 2.
- ^ "Events". rnsubs.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO
- ^ "Photo News". btinternet.com/~warship. Archived from the original on 12 December 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2022. [self-published source]
- ^ "Oberon class submarine at Pounds Scrapyard in Portsmouth, United Kingdom". 50.82885400;-1.09244200: Virtual Globetrotting. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "HMS Opportune Submarine Reunion". www.hmsopportune.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
Publications[edit]
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
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