OBERON Class

(SS) patrol submarine
In the 1960's, three OBERON class patrol submarines were purchased from Britain to replace older submarines borrowed from the US Navy. At the time, they were state of the art conventional subs, despite being based on a late-WWII German hull design. They were originally fitted with two stern-facing 'short' torpedo tubes, but the advent of reliable guided torpedos made these obsolete. In the early- to mid- 1980's, all three subs went through SOUP (Submarine Operational Update Program) refits, which updated various systems, including the sonar and the torpedos carried. A fourth O-boat (OLYMPUS) was later purchased (used) from the RN, to be used alongside for training purposes, and a fifth (HMS OSIRIS) was purchased and used for spare parts. One submarine was often kept in refit at any given time. They are to be replaced with four like-new British UPHOLDER class patrol submarines. OKANAGAN's sailpast was delayed by the crash of Swissair Flight 111, and she was employed in searching for and finding the flight recorders from that plane.

OBERON Class
Characteristics:

Displacement: 1,610 / 2,410 tons surfaced / submerged 
Dimensions: 89.92 x 8.8 x 5.48 meters (295 x 29 x 18 feet) 
Propulsion: 2 3,680 hp Admiralty Standard Range V16 diesels, 2 3,000 hp electric motors, diesel-electric, 2 shafts, 6000 shp, 12/16 knots 
Crew: 68 
Sonar: Type 187 Active-Passive,  Type 2007 passive
Fire Control:
Armament: Six forward 21" tubes with Northrop Mk.37 Mod 2 electric homing torpedoes, two rear 21" "short" tubes with Northrop Mk.37 Mod 0 electric straight running torpedoes.

Final Outfit with SOUP:

Sonar: Type 2051 Plessey Triton passive-active search and attack, AN/BQG-502 Sperry Micro-puffs passive ranging, SUBTASS combined towed and flank array with long range passive search
Fire Control: Singer-Librascope SFCS Mk 1 Mod C
Armament: Six forward 21" tubes with 20 Mk.48 homing torpedoes 
 

Boats:
 
 
Name
Pendant
Commissioned
SOUP
Paid Off
Homeport
OJIBWA
72
23/09/65
1982
21/05/98
Halifax
ONONDAGA
73
22/06/67
1986
28/07/00
Halifax
OKANAGAN
74
22/06/68
1984
12/09/98
Halifax
 

Photos:

 (click on thumbnail for bigger image) 

O-boat
O-boat in Halifax Harbour. (1998)
One of the O-boats entering Halifax Harbour sometime in 1998.
HMCS OJIBWA (I think) at HMC Dockyard. ('98) 
All three Canadian O-boats, on one of the rare occasions when all three are active at the same time. Note that none of the subs have gone through SOUP in this photo, as shown by the old style sonar domes. DND photo. 
An O-boat in the sub shed, where all refits are carried out. Note the two 'short' tubes on the very tail end of the stern. The photographer is standing on the Syncrolift, a device that lifts ships (including frigate and destroyer sized vessels) out of the water to be worked on. The OBERON class was heavily influenced by late-WWII German submarine design. DND photo.
One of the O-boats on the surface in rather lively weather. DND photo.
One of the O-boats open for tours. ('97) 
The former HMS OLYMPUS, now used alongside as a training platform. ('97) 
HMCS OKANAGAN. DND photo, Courtesy of Dave Shirlaw.
HMCS ONONDAGA. DND photo, Courtesy of Dave Shirlaw.
 


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