ROYAL NAVY 'O' CLASS SUBMARINE
Designed for long endurance patrols. this was the first class of boat to
be identified by name instead of letter.
Oberon was the only Group 1 boat.
Of the five Group 2 boats, three were built for the Chilean Navy. The other
two, OA1 and OA2 were built for the Australian Navy both sailed for
Australia in 1928 and spent one year in reserve. Both were recommissioned in
1931 into the Royal Navy as Oxley and Otway .
Oxley became the first submarine loss of the war when in 1939 HMS/m Triton
operating off Norway sunk Oxley by mistake with only two survivors.
Four other 'O' Class were lost during the war.
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'O' Class Specification:
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| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | |
| Commissioned | 1927 | 1927 to 1929 | 1929 to 1930 |
| Length (feet): | 269.7 | 275 | 283.5 |
| Beam (feet): | 28 | 27.5 | 29.8 |
| Displacement (tons): | 1311 (surfaced) 1831(submerged) |
1354 (surfaced) 1872 (submerged) |
1475 (surfaced) 2038 (submerged) |
| Speed (knots): | 13.75 (surfaced) 9 (submerged) |
15 (surfaced) 9 (submerged) |
17.5 (surfaced) 9 (submerged) |
| Armament: | One 4" gun Two Lewis Machine Guns Six 21" Bow Tubes Two 21" Stern Tube |
One 4" gun Two Lewis Machine Guns Six 21" Bow Tubes Two 21" Stern Tube |
One 4" gun Two Lewis Machine Guns Six 21" Bow Tubes Two 21" Stern Tube |
| Engines: | Two 2950hp diesels Two 1350hp electric motors |
Two 3100hp diesels Two 1350hp electric motors |
Two 4600hp diesels Two 1390hp electric motors |
| Range (n/miles): | 6500 | 8400 | 8400 |
| Compliment: | 54 | 54 | 54 |