HMS Opportune (S20)

HMS Opportune (S20) was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Navy.

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

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:	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]

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

Opportune attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla.[3]

Decommissioning and fate

Opportune was paid off on 2 June 1993. For several years the vessel resided at Pounds scrapyard in Portsmouth.[4]

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. Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO

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.