Name HMS Oracle Commissioned 14 February 1963 Class and type Oberon-class submarine Launched 26 September 1961 Beam 8.08 m | Laid down 26 April 1960 Decommissioned 18 September 1993 Construction started 26 April 1960 Draft 5.5 m Builder Cammell Laird | |
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Fate Transferred to Pounds scrapyard, Portsmouth in 1997 for breaking up, completed in mid-2003. | ||
HMS Oracle was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Navy.
Contents
Design and construction
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.
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). Displacement was 1,610 tons standard, 2,030 tons full load when surfaced, and 2,410 tons full load when submerged. 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 feet (2.1 m) 3-bladed propeller at up to 400 rpm. Top speed was 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) when submerged, and 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface. Eight 21-inch (530 mm) diameter torpedo tubes were fitted (six facing forward, two aft), with a total payload of 24 torpedoes. The boats were fitted with Type 186 and Type 187 sonars, and an I-band surface search radar. The standard complement was 68: 6 officers, 62 sailors.
Oracle was laid down by Cammel Laird on 26 April 1960, and launched on 26 September 1961. The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 14 February 1963.
Operational history
Oracle attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla.
Oracle featured in the 1980s BBC documentary series Submarine as she was host to Perisher trainee submarine commanders.
Decommissioning and fate
Oracle was paid off on 18 September 1993.