HMS Onslaught (S14)

HMS Onslaught was a British Oberon-class submarine operated by the Royal Navy.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Onslaught.

HMS Onslaught
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Onslaught
Builder:	Chatham Dockyard, England
Laid down:	8 April 1959
Launched:	24 September 1960
Commissioned:	14 August 1962
Decommissioned:	1990
Identification:	pennant number: S14
General characteristics as designed
Class and type:	Oberon-class submarine
Displacement:	1,610 tons standard 2,030 tons full load surfaced 2,410 tons full load submerged
Length:	241 feet (73 m) between perpendiculars 295.2 feet (90.0 m) length overall
Beam:	26.5 feet (8.1 m)
Draught:	18 feet (5.5 m)
Propulsion:	2 × Admiralty Standard Range 16 VMS diesel generators 2 × 3,000 shaft horsepower (2,200 kW) electric motors 2 shafts
Speed:	17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) submerged 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
Complement:	68 (6 officers, 62 enlisted)
Sensors and processing systems:	Type 186 and Type 187 sonars I-band surface search radar
Armament:	8 × 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes (6 forward, 2 aft) 24 torpedoes

Design and construction

Main article: Oberon-class submarine

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]

Onslaught was laid down by Chatham Dockyard on 8 April 1959, and launched on 24 September 1960.[2] The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 14 August 1962.[2]

Operational history

Her patrols in the Mediterranean and Baltic from 1986 to 1988 are classified.[3]

Decommissioning and fate

Onslaught was paid off in 1990.

References

1. Chant, Christopher (2005). Submarine Warfare Today: The World's Deadliest Underwater Weapons Systems. Wigston: Silverdale Books. p. . ISBN 1-84509-158-2. OCLC 156749009.
2. 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.
3. "Rear-Admiral David Cooke - obituary". Daily Telegraph. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.

Publications

• 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.
• Submarines, War Beneath The Waves, From 1776 To The Present Day, By Robert Hutchinson.