Silent Service, Oberon submarine

Artist Darrell White

Date2000

Object number00030960

NameDrawing

MediumPencil on paper

DimensionsOverall: 608 x 410 mm, 1 mm, 0.1 kg

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionDarrell White's graphite pencil drawing of an Oberon class submarine from the Royal Australian Navy captures the submarine underwater firing a torpedo from the port bow tube.HistoryThe Oberon class attack submarines played a vital role protecting Australia for more than 30 years, until they were phased out during the 1990s and completely replaced by the 'Collins class boats in 2000. Initially built to replace the Royal Navy's Fourth Submarine Division, which had provided submarine services and training for the Royal Australian Navy and RNZN after World War II, the Oberons were also ordered in response to concerns about the expansion of the Soviet Pacific fleet; they were commissioned at the height of the Cold war. Their versatility lay in their ability to operate with extreme stealth - to watch, listen and collect information without being detected. These conventionally powered diesel-electric submarines carried out many activities including secret patrols, photographic reconnaissance, surveillance, shadowing and intelligence gathering. THE Royal Australian Navy's six Oberons are spread out around the country, in various locations: HMAS OVENS is located at the Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle, HMAS ONSLOW is located at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour, Sydney. Both are successful museum ships. HMAS OTWAY's sail, outer hull and stern section are preserved on land at Holbrook, NSW. HMAS OTAMA is located in Westernport Bay, Victoria, where she has been since 2000 and still (2010) awaits conversion to a museum ship. HMAS OXLEY's fin stands as a permanent memorial at HMAS Stirling, Garden Island, Western Australia. HMAS ORION was scrapped by Tenix at Henderson, Western Australia in December 2006. The sail was given to the City of Rockingham and is now mounted as a permanent memorial at the Naval Memorial Park.The port propellor was donated to the Western Australia Maritime Museum.SignificanceThis drawing represents an important weapons platform in the Royal Australian Navy - the Oberons gave some 30 years of service before being phased out and replaced by the Collins class.