HMS Onslaught (S14)


HMS Onslaught was a British attack submarine operated by the Royal Navy.

Design and construction

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.
As designed for British service, the Oberon-class submarines were in length between perpendiculars and in length overall, with a beam of, and a draught of. Displacement was 1,610 tons standard, 2,030 tons full load when surfaced, and 2,410 tons full load when submerged. Propulsion machinery consisted of 2 Admiralty Standard Range 16 VMS diesel generators, and two electric motors, each driving a, 3-bladed propeller at up to 400 rpm. Top speed was when submerged, and on the surface. Eight diameter torpedo tubes were fitted, with a total payload of 24 torpedoes. The boats were fitted with Type 186 and Type 187 sonars, and an I-band surface search radar. The standard complement was 68: 6 officers, 62 sailors.
Onslaught was laid down by Chatham Dockyard on 8 April 1959, and launched on 24 September 1960. The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 14 August 1962.

Operational history

Onslaught was first assigned to the 2nd Submarine Squadron, based in Devonport. She was reassigned to the Singapore-based 7th Squadron in 1966, and received a refit in Devonport from 1970 to 1972. She was then assigned to the 1st Squadron in 1972. Her squadron assignment after 1983 is unknown.
Her patrols in the Mediterranean and Baltic seas from 1986 to 1988 are classified.

Decommissioning and fate

Onslaught was paid off in 1990, and broken up at Aliaga, Turkey in 1991.

Publications

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