HMAS Onslow

HMAS Onslow is an Oberon-class submarine that served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1969 to 1999. Named after the Western Australian coastal town of Onslow, the vessel was built in Scotland and transferred to Australia in 1970. During its years of active service, the submarine earned a special place in history: a refit between 1982 and 1984 made it the world's first conventionally powered submarine equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles. This technical innovation significantly expanded the fleet's tactical options. Over the course of its service, Onslow took part in numerous international exercises, in which it successfully took on large fleet formations and even a U.S. supercarrier in simulated combat scenarios.

Today the submarine is preserved as a museum ship at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney. After being decommissioned in 1999, Onslow was handed over to the museum and berthed in Darling Harbour next to the destroyer HMAS Vampire. Visitors can tour the interior of the vessel and get a look at its technical equipment and the living conditions of the crew. The museum preserves the submarine's historic legacy through regular maintenance work, including cleaning the hull, removing rust, and repairing torpedo tubes.

The exhibit offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the Australian navy and the development of submarine technology. As one of the few surviving examples of its class, Onslow documents the military strategy and technological advances of the final decades of the 20th century. If you're interested in maritime history and engineering, a visit is an impressive experience that puts the complex story of the ship and its crew front and center.