HMS Oracle (S16)

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

HMS Oracle was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Navy.

HMS Oracle
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Oracle
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down	26 April 1960
Launched	26 September 1961
Commissioned	14 February 1963
Decommissioned	18 September 1993
Fate	Transferred to Pounds scrapyard, Portsmouth in 1997 for breaking up, completed in mid-2003.[1]
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
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 the fabrication of the pressure hull.^[2]

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).^[3] Displacement was 1,610 tons standard, 2,030 tons full load when surfaced, and 2,410 tons full load when submerged.^[3] 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.^[3] Top speed was 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) when submerged, and 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface.^[3] Eight 21-inch (530 mm) diameter torpedo tubes were fitted (six facing forward, two aft), with a total payload of 24 torpedoes.^[3] The boats were fitted with Type 186 and Type 187 sonars, and an I-band surface search radar.^[3] The standard complement was 68: 6 officers, 62 sailors.^[3]

Oracle was laid down by Cammell Laird on 26 April 1960, and launched on 26 September 1961.^[3] The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 14 February 1963.^[3]

Operational history

Oracle performed three-month secret 'observation' missions in the Arctic region in 1965 during the Cold War period and was on stand-by duty during the tumultuous period when Rhodesia announced independence.

Oracle attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla.^[4]

Oracle featured in the 1980s BBC documentary series Submarine as she was host to Perisher trainee submarine commanders.^{[citation needed]}

Decommissioning and fate

Oracle was paid off on 18 September 1993.^{[citation needed]}