Gps Coordinates  /  51.3953908,0.5275433

Submarine HMS Ocelot 1962 England Vehicles VR tour

The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TZ

Submarine HMS Ocelot 1962 England

Launched in 1962, HM Submarine Ocelot was the last Royal Navy warship built at Chatham

Link Gps 51.395592 /  Link Gps 51.39569 /  Link Gps 51.395244

Gps Coordinates  /  51.395592,0.52624  /  51.39569,0.525922  /  51.395244,0.525693

Equipped with a stealthy diesel electric engine Oberon class submarines such as Ocelot made for the perfect surveillance vessel and were selected to undertake missions in the deep waters of the world’s oceans – some of which remain top secret!

Link Gps 51.395604 /  Link Gps 51.395604 /  Link Gps 51.395593

Gps Coordinates  /  51.395604,0.52618  /  51.395604,0.526215  /  51.395593,0.526254

HM Submarine Ocelot was one of the thirteen Oberon Class submarines built for the Royal Navy between 1959 and 1964. The Oberon Class were all diesel electric boats which were capable of high underwater speeds of up to 17 knots (20 mph) when submerged. They also carried improved detection equipment over their predecessor the Porpoise Class, and were armed with homing torpedoes. Additional improvements included the soundproofing of all equipment making the Oberon Class the quietest submarines in existence. As such, their design lent themselves to maintaining continuous submerged patrols performing surveillance and intelligence gathering missions, a role that became vital during the Cold War. O-boats of the Royal Navy were primarily involved in missions across arctic Europe.

Link Gps 51.395564 /  Link Gps 51.395546 /  Link Gps 51.395528

Gps Coordinates  /   51.395564,0.52636  /  51.395546,0.526478  /  51.395528,0.526472

Although the Ministry of Defence have yet to release in-depth papers regarding Ocelot’s service, we know that this remarkable vessel clocked up over 90,000 miles and engaged in exercises and trials in nearly every corner of the world, including during the Cold War in the Arctic, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean and Baltic Seas. She remained in service until 1991. The Ministry of Defence have yet to release in-depth papers relating to the specific operations and campaigns that Ocelot was involved in. However the fairly routine navigational records of her logs provide an overall idea of her history. After being commissioned on the 5th of January 1964 Ocelot joined the Third Submarine Squadron based at HMNB Clyde at Faslane. It is known that in the first three years of

Link Gps 51.395535 /  Link Gps 51.395511 /  Link Gps 51.395503

Gps Coordinates  /  51.395535,0.526526  /  51.395511,0.526634  /  51.395503,0.526672

During the 1960’s Ocelot like many of the other O-Boats, was heavily involved in trialling submarine equipment, acting as a target for aircraft and assisting ship trials and training.  Ocelot particularly contributed to important work testing Mark 24 torpedoes.  It is also known that Ocelot carried out NATO exercises during this period.  On the 24th of July 1968 the submarine was visited at sea by the Ministry of Defence Secretary and the Second Sea Lord who arrived by helicopter, a little unusual and at the time perhaps rather pioneering event.

Link Gps 51.395488 /  Link Gps 51.395469 /  Link Gps 51.395446

Gps Coordinates  /  51.395488,0.526751  /  51.395469,0.526937  /  51.395446,0.526996

Throughout the 1970s exercises took Ocelot further afield particularly to the Caribbean.  One notable incident in Ocelot’s history saw her involved in the salvage of HM Submarine Artemis which famously sunk when moored at the RN submarine base HMS Dolphin in 1971.  Although Artemis never returned to service, Ocelot’s crew helped to rescue the 3 ratings trapped onboard and bring the vessel back afloat.

You can swing through the hatches and peer through the periscope of HMS Ocelot on a visit to the Dockyard. Timed tours run daily and can be booked on arrival at Plan your visit. https://thedockyard.co.uk/plan-your-visit/

Link Gps 51.395434 /  Link Gps 51.395424 /  Link Gps 51.395418

Gps Coordinates  /  51.395434,0.527052  /  51.395424,0.527076  /  51.395418,0.527104

She was launched two years later in May 1962 from No. 7 Slip. Significantly Ocelot was the last submarine to be built in Chatham Dockyard for the Royal Navy. Ocelot paid off in August 1991 and returned to Chatham Historic Dockyard in 1992.

Link Location Gps Coordinate 51.395411

Gps Coordinates  /  51.395411,0.527135

HM Submarine Ocelot eventually paid off at Chatham Dockyard in August 1991 having been on active service for the Royal Navy for 27 years.