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  • Oberon Armaments

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    Floyd Price
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    The forward torpedo tubes on Oberon-class submarines consisted of an inner and outer section bolted together. The inner tube was 116 inches long while the outer was 175 inches. Torpedoes could be loaded and fired electrically or with compressed air. The aft torpedo tubes passed through the ballast tank and had a shorter length of 12 feet but larger diameter of 25 inches. Originally equipped with British Tigerfish torpedoes, the Oberons later used American Mark 48 torpedoes, carrying 22 forward. The aft tubes were eventually sealed. Oberons were also equipped with Harpoon missiles, with HMAS Ovens becoming the first Oberon to launch one subsurface.

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    The forward torpedo tubes on Oberon-class submarines consisted of an inner and outer section bolted together. The inner tube was 116 inches long while the outer was 175 inches. Torpedoes could be loaded and fired electrically or with compressed air. The aft torpedo tubes passed through the ballast tank and had a shorter length of 12 feet but larger diameter of 25 inches. Originally equipped with British Tigerfish torpedoes, the Oberons later used American Mark 48 torpedoes, carrying 22 forward. The aft tubes were eventually sealed. Oberons were also equipped with Harpoon missiles, with HMAS Ovens becoming the first Oberon to launch one subsurface.

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    15 views2 pages

    Oberon Armaments

    Uploaded by

    Floyd Price
    The forward torpedo tubes on Oberon-class submarines consisted of an inner and outer section bolted together. The inner tube was 116 inches long while the outer was 175 inches. Torpedoes could be loaded and fired electrically or with compressed air. The aft torpedo tubes passed through the ballast tank and had a shorter length of 12 feet but larger diameter of 25 inches. Originally equipped with British Tigerfish torpedoes, the Oberons later used American Mark 48 torpedoes, carrying 22 forward. The aft tubes were eventually sealed. Oberons were also equipped with Harpoon missiles, with HMAS Ovens becoming the first Oberon to launch one subsurface.

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    Oberon Armaments

    Torpedo Tubes
    The forward torpedo tubes are constructed in two sections bolted
    together across the bulkhead at the fore end of the torpedo
    compartment. The 116-inch (290 cm) long inner section is
    constructed of 0.5-inch (1.3 cm) rolled steel fitted with welded
    flanges and support brackets. The outer section is constructed of a
    similar tube 175 inches (440 cm) long but with a reinforced 1.125-
    inch (2.86 cm) thick section behind the main bulkhead. The
    internal door hinges at one side with two locking mechanisms, a
    swing bolt opposite the hinge and a rotating locking ring attached
    to the tube which presses down on the ten projecting lugs around
    the door. The outer end of the tube is sealed with a domed bow cap. Bow shutters close across the bow
    caps to preserve the streamlined shape of the bow when the cap is closed.
    The bow caps and shutters are mechanically linked to a hydraulically operated drive rod from within the
    torpedo compartment. The bow cap opens first behind the shutter, which then folds back against it
    forming a smooth exit tube. Interlocks prevent the doors at both ends being opened at the same time, but
    the inner door is also provided with a test cock to check whether the tube is full of water before opening
    and remains held nearly closed by the swing bolt after the locking ring is released. The tube internal
    diameter is 22.5 in, wider than the torpedo, which is designed as a loose fit inside the tube. Torpedoes
    could be fired either electrically or with compressed air.
    The aft torpedo tubes passed through the ballast tank at the rear of the submarine. A 31-inch (79 cm)
    section projected into the boat through the bulkhead, forming overall a relatively short tube of 12 feet
    (3.7 m), but of 25-inch (640 mm) diameter.
    With the retirement of the Mark 20S torpedo in the 1980s, the stern torpedo tubes were decommissioned
    and thereafter used for storing beer.[

    Electronic warfare & decoys


    MEL Manta UAL or UA4 radar
    warning

    Armament - 6 × 21 in (533.4 mm) bow


    tubes, 20 torpedoes 2 × 21 in (533.4
    mm) short stern tubes, 2 torpedoes
    Forward torpedo payload could be
    replaced with 50 × mines

    Mk 48 Torpedo -Instead of the British Tigerfish torpedoes, the Australians used American Mark 48
    torpedoes. They had a slightly larger payload, carrying 22 torpedoes for the forward tubes, six of which were
    preloaded. Shortly after entering service, the aft torpedo tubes in all six submarines were sealed.

    Harpoon - The Australian submarines were later updated to be equipped with the subsonic
    antiship Harpoon missile. In 1985, off the island of Kauai in Hawaii, HMAS Ovens became only the second
    conventional submarine in the world—and the first Oberon—to fire a subsurface-launched Harpoon missile,
    successfully hitting the target over the horizon. Consequently, the designation for the Australian Oberons
    changed from SS to SSG.

    The Mk 8 Torpedo
    Widely used on the Australian Oberons:
    Early versions entered service: 1927
    Weight: 3,452 lb (1,566 kg)
    Length: 259 in (6.6 m)
    Explosive charge: 750 lb (340 kg) TNT
    Range and speed: 5,000 yd (4,600 m) at 40 kn (74 km/h)
    Early Mark VIII**
    Range and speed: 5,000 yd (4,600 m) at 45.6 kn (84.5 km/h)
    Explosive charge: 722 lb (327 kg) Torpex
    Late Mark VIII**
    Range and speed: 7,000 yd (6,400 m) at 41 kn (76 km/h)
    Explosive charge: 805 lb (365 kg) Torpex
    The Mark VIII was designed around 1925 and was the first British burner-cycle design torpedo. It was used
    from 1927 on submarines of the O class onwards and motor torpedo boats. The principal World War II
    version was the improved Mark VIII**, 3,732 being fired by September 1944 (56.4% of the total number).
    The torpedo is still in service with the Royal Navy albeit in a limited role, and with the Royal Norwegian
    Navy (Coastal Artillery: Kaholmen torpedo battery at Oscarsborg Fortress) until 1993.
    Notable Incidents- The Mark VIII was used in two particularly notable incidents:
    On 9 February 1945 the Royal Navy submarine HMS Venturer sank the German submarine U-864 with four
    Mark VIII** torpedoes. This is the only intentional wartime sinking of one submarine by another while both
    were submerged. On 2 May 1982 the Royal Navy submarine HMS Conqueror sank the Argentine
    cruiser ARA General Belgrano with two Mark VIII** torpedoes during the Falklands War.[2] This is the only
    sinking of a surface ship by a nuclear-powered submarine in wartime and the second (of three) sinkings of a
    surface ship by any submarine since the end of World War II). The other two sinkings were of
    the Indian frigate INS Khukri and the South Korean corvette ROKS Cheonan.

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