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History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Opportune
Builder	Scotts, Greenock
Yard number	693
Laid down	26 October 1962
Launched	14 February 1964
Commissioned	29 December 1964
Decommissioned	2 June 1993
Fate	Paid off
General characteristics as designed
Class and type	Oberon class
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

HMS Opportune (S20) was an Oberon-class submarine of 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 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). 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 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. Top speed was 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) when submerged, and 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface. Eight 21-inch (530 mm) diameter torpedo tubes were fitted (six facing forward, two aft), 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.

Opportune was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company on 26 October 1962, and launched on 14 February 1964. The boat was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 29 December 1964.

Operational history

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On 15 February 1967, Opportune was in collision with sister submarine Orpheus when Opportune was leaving Portsmouth harbour as Orpheus was entering at night and in heavy weather, with only minor damage caused. Orpheus's commanding officer was found guilty of hazarding his vessel and was reprimanded. In 1971, Opportune collided with a merchant ship, causing damage to the upper front part of the fin as well as both periscopes.

Opportune attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla.

Decommissioning and fate

Opportune was paid off on 2 June 1993. For several years the vessel resided at Pounds scrapyard in Portsmouth.

Every year since the vessel was scrapped, senior rates from the boat have annually met together to celebrate their service and life on the boat.

References

1. Chant, Christopher (2005). Submarine Warfare Today: The World's Deadliest Underwater Weapons Systems. Wigston: Silverdale Books. p. . ISBN 1-84509-158-2. OCLC 156749009.
2. ^ Moore, John, ed. (1977). Jane's Fighting Ships 1977-78. Jane's Fighting Ships (80th ed.). London: Jane's Yearbooks. p. 490. ISBN 0531032779. OCLC 18207174.
3. "Submarines in Collision". The Times. No. 56868. 17 February 1967. p. 1.
4. "Submarine CO cleared". The Times. No. 56915. 14 April 1967. p. 4.
5. "Reprimand of officer". The Times. No. 56918. 18 April 1967. p. 2.
6. "Events". rnsubs.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
7. Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO
8. "Photo News". btinternet.com/~warship. Archived from the original on 12 December 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
9. "Oberon class submarine at Pounds Scrapyard in Portsmouth, United Kingdom". 50.82885400;-1.09244200: Virtual Globetrotting. 4 April 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
10. "HMS Opportune Submarine Reunion". www.hmsopportune.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2024.

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) . Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.

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