 HMS Orpheus | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Orpheus |
| Builder | Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness |
| Laid down | 16 April 1959 |
| Launched | 17 November 1959 |
| Commissioned | 25 November 1960 |
| Identification | Pennant number: S11 |
| Fate | Scrapped, 1994 |
| General characteristics as designed | |
| Class & type | Oberon-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam | 26.5 feet (8.1 m) |
| Draught | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Complement | 68 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
HMS Orpheus was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Navy.
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] Unlike other members of the class, which had a fin made from glass fibre-reinforced plastic, the fin of Orpheus was made of aluminium alloy. [2]
Orpheus was laid down by Vickers-Armstrongs on 16 April 1959, and launched on 17 November 1959. [2] The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 25 November 1960. [2]
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In mid-1964, Orpheus joined the 3rd Submarine Flotilla based at Faslane. In June 1965 she carried out submarine escape trials off Malta, with a record 500 feet (150 m) free ascent made. Other duties including training Canadian and Australian crews for Oberon-class submarines that were being built for those countries. [3] On 15 February 1967 Orpheus collided with sister-ship Opportune in poor weather and darkness off Portsmouth Harbour. Orpheus's commanding officer was reprimanded at the resultant court martial. [4]
Orpheus attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla. [5]
She was paid off in 1987; subsequently she served as the 'alongside trainer' at the RN Submarine School, HMS Dolphin, where she provided new recruits with a hands-on training environment. [6] She was broken up in 1994.