Australian Submarines

The first Australian submarines, the AE1 (pictured right) and the AE2, were commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1914. 

They were deployed during World War 1, but both were lost during combat.

The fate of the AE1 has never been determined.

The AE2 was the first submarine to break through the Turkish defences before sustaining irreparable damage and sinking on 30 April 1915.

In 1919, six ‘J’ Class submarines were commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy. 

The second-hand boats, received from the Royal Navy, were in such bad condition they were immediately placed into refit on reaching Sydney.  Even after extensive work, the boats spent very little time in the water and, except for J7, all were decommissioned in 1924.

Under the Royal Australian Navy's post World War I development program, two submarines - HMAS Otway and HMAS Oxley - were ordered from the Royal Navy.  They arrived in Sydney in 1929, but due to maintenance problems and the depressed economy, they were returned to Britain in 1931.

During World War II, the Royal Australian Navy obtained the ex-Dutch submarine K9, which was used for training surface ships in submarine detection.

Oberon Class Submarines

It wasn't until four initial Oberon Class submarines were commissioned that Australia began to build a strong submarine fleet.

While the Oberons were not involved in any conflict while in service, their presence was invaluable to the Royal Australian Navy.

They were built by Scotts Shipbuilding at Greenock in Scottland.

Four boats were commissioned initially:

HMAS Oxley (March 1967);
HMAS Otway (March 1968);
HMAS Ovens (April 1969); and
HMAS Onslow (December 1969).

HMAS Oxley's arrival in Sydney coincided with the commissioning of the submarine base HMAS Platypus, at Neutral Bay, Sydney.

In 1977 and 1978 two more submarines were commissioned, HMAS Orion and HMAS Otama.