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Efficiency Award to HMAS ONSLOW

Date10 February 1997

Object number00048270

NameCertificate

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 298 x 210 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionPrinted certificate awarded to HMAS ONSLOW from the Maritime Command Force Element Group, 10 February 1997, for being the most operationally efficient fleet unit in the Submarine Force Element Group during 1996.HistoryHMAS ONSLOW was one of six Oberon class submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The submarine was named for the town of Onslow, Western Australia and after Sir Alexander Onslow, former Chief Justice of Western Australia, with the boat's motto and badge derived from the Onslow's Coat of Arms. Ordered in 1963, ONSLOW was laid down at the end of 1967 by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Scotland, launched almost a year later, and commissioned into the RAN at the end of 1968. Although never involved in hostilities, three major incidents occurred during ONSLOW's career. The first occurred in 1972, when a disgruntled sailor who disobeyed orders caused the submarine to dive to almost twice her recommended, safe operating depth. As a result, the RAN changed the Submarine Service manning policy to one which which 'conscripted' volunteers only. The second incident happened in 1980, when carbon monoxide fumes from one of the diesel generators filled the submarine, resulting in the death of one sailor. Although changes were made to submarine operating procedures, the boat's company was not provided with any psychological counseling, and the incident report remained classified until 2009. The third was a controversial line-crossing ceremony in 1995, which resulted in restrictions being placed on similar initiation ceremonies in RAN vessels. During her career, ONSLOW became the first conventionally powered submarine to be fitted with anti ship missiles, and was successful in wargames: 'sinking' a seven ship flotila during Exercise Kangaroo 3 in 1980, and the United States supercarrier USS Carl Vinson at RIMPAC 1998. ONSLOW was decommissioned in 1999, and was presented by the Department of Defence to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where she is preserved as a museum ship. SignificanceThis book is a good example of how a cultural tradition - the naming of ships - is acknowledged, preserved and transmitted within the Royal Navy and its 'sister' navies (e.g. RAN and RNZN)