RAN retains the 2 x O class SS for WW2

Re: RAN retains the 2 x O class SS for WW2

feeds@yuku.com (bager1968) — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:23:43 GMT

Not that I have read. The RAN only took on K9 (Tom Baker anyone?) as a training asses for surface vessels, so I would think they weren't interested in adding a new arm of the Navy in the middle of an all-out war.

If the arm already existed, however, I think they would want to expand it.

Re: RAN retains the 2 x O class SS for WW2

feeds@yuku.com (NewGolconda) — Tue, 27 May 2008 07:21:07 GMT

I managed to dig out the primary source documents for this question a while back.

The Navy (reading between the lines, Hyde) thought.

The submarines were useless, except as a full flotilla.

That the funds for a full flotilla would not be forthcoming in the foreseeable future.

The navy should concentrate on replacing the light cruisers, starting with Brisbane.

That due to 1st London, they were now critical as they counted towards the BE total.

...

Re: RAN retains the 2 x O class SS for WW2

feeds@yuku.com (sons of anzac) — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:05:05 GMT

"Would they have made a difference? Probably not by themselves, but the act of keeping them until 1939 would have, by keeping a core of trained personnel and the training & support facilities... which would have meant the RAN would get a share of the British WW2 sub production, likely 4-6 "T" class boats, and they would have made a difference."

Apart from the ex Dutch K9 did the RAN have any interest in...

Re: RAN retains the 2 x O class SS for WW2

feeds@yuku.com (bager1968) — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:27:34 GMT

The "Odin" class (also called the "Oberon" class), of which the RAN's were the second & third, were similar to most of the USN subs present in the Philippines at the start of the war... serviceable, but nearing obsolescence.

While they would have been capable of effective combat (and were, in the RN where they had 7 sister subs), they were aging, and the RAN would have had to do a lot of work on them.

Plus, apparently they had a design flaw:...

RAN retains the 2 x O class SS for WW2

feeds@yuku.com (sons of anzac) — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:29:37 GMT

I fthe RAN had retained the 2 x O class submarines - Oxley and Otway- rather than return them to the RN because of the depression- how would they have fared in the Pacific theatre against Japan? How did their design fair during war operations in the Mediterranean and Atlantic? I'm not familiar if any operated in the Pacific - Indian Ocean theatres but it would be interesting if there is any information out there on how they performed and what might have been if the RAN had retained them...