HMAS OTAMA 1989

[@SubBrief]

This brings back memories. We were always in our poopie suits on the American nuc boats. Sub service was always a bit relaxed underway until about 1997-ish. Good times, gentlemen.

[@lard_lad_AU]

Aaron, thanks for your recent Subbrief on the Oberons. It was excellent

[@rooster56100]

I bought this O boat back from the UK in 1978, can't believe I just found this video lol. Frank Wolfe was the skipper, if I remember correctly. We got to Scotland 18 months before she was due to head home, to familiarize ourselves with the boat, and do the shakedown cruises before we headed home. Fond memories, except for the rain and cold weather. She was built in Paisley, Scotland, on the Clyde River.

[@mohammadwasilliterate8037]

*Yeah I was on skimmers, I took a look at one of those old subs inside and thought NOPE, and remained on the ships, DERWENT the DARWIN then got out after 11yrs, best move ever got into oil and gas earned far more than the NAVY was going to pay me.*

[@augustusgloop1064]

Haaaa....awesome clip Bevvie :-) thank you mate :-) only two types of ships, Submarines and targets! Miss my Boats time and days. The most incredible and amazing people.

[@peterzimmerman7197]

Super impressive and professional in their actions and commands that shows through. Not a gig that I could do I think, Respect.

[@traceydevlin7066]

Well that was a nostalgia trip. I was in the Puss 83-06. Had two pstings to Plats 84 and 94. Dutchy the UW in the forends is the only name I recall but phark....alot of those faces are familiar!! I never got my Dolphins, got made PMU submarines after my skin kept festering up like a pepperoni pizza every time at sea in Oxley. Oh well of to the Bosuns Store/Boat shed at the end of the wharf at Plats for me!! Oh and that piss bar........that was something else.......!!!!!!

[@adamwest1138]

You would have been there when my dad was. I have fond memories of the family open days they used to have. I also remember standing on the wharf as a 6 year jumping up and down with excitement because dad was coming home after a few months away

[@siddalton5190]

Great video, brings back some memories - many faces I recognised. Well done Guy.

[@sydhewitt818]

Went on the Otway in dry dock in Fremantle years ago. The biggest hero on these things is the cook, churning out moral boosting meals in the galley the size of a biscuit tin? Yea nuh not for me you can keep this part of serving your country, takes a special bloke to ride around in these things all day.

[@Captally]

When I did my Submarine training at Dolphin in 1965 we had five or six Aussies and two Canadians in the class. Great oppos, great runs ashore, good memories with our true allies. Hooray for CANZUK.

[@ralphkeenan5497]

Great video. A nice reminder of my day on UK diesel boats. Love the pirate rig but come on !! Fekin sandals !!!??? "Upper lid shut, two clips, two pins". Brit O boats didn't have hand held walkie talkies as I remember. My last boat was Olympus. 1988. Happy days.

[@alanhughes1262]

In 1984 i rebuilt the muffler boxes and diesel pipe work for these subs at the ordnance factory in melbourne .All good reports about these old girls.

[@freeagent8225]

Their banter actually makes them look more professional, it shows the trust they have and need in their shipmates. I remember at Station Pier waiting 4 hours to go onboard during an "open day".

[@nathanjones9105]

Man. There was a bucket load of faces that I haven’t seen in years. MTP Bevan June 86 intake nirimba Loved it. Never served subs. But recognise a heap of faces.

[@raybin6873]

Look like a bunch of pirates in a submarine. Ain't no way I could ever live in such tight spaces. 😄

[@allanhenry6591]

Thank you for sharing this video guy bevan. I have never seen any footage of my father only photos when he served on HMAS Otama. Thank you

[@johnfisher4725]

Yes this is actual footage taken on Otama, I was there.

[@myeflatley1150]

See bustermk2. Your response can clear this nagging quandary.

[@mohammadwasilliterate8037]

Piece of old crap.

[@loumanzi8292]

Hats off to you boys, worked on them in the dry dock at Henderson and Garden Island W.A. you knew your shit and that of every other fucker on board!

[@freeagent8225]

The "Oberon" class submarine served Australia extremely well. Pity we don't buy off the shelf submarines. You could often visit them on open days. Memories of being a little boy being fascinated by these submarines.

[@NoName-ds5uq]

Agreed. I got to go onboard 5 of the 6 on open days when I was a kid, Ovens being the exception. I was serving on Stuart when this was filmed and remember one time watching Oxley keeping station with us both submerged and surfaced, putting the periscope up and down, etc.

[@d165354]

Excellent video. shows what it was really like on an "O" boat. i was on ODIN (RN) mike (skippy) ilett

[@henryhheron6723]

my dad was on this sub and now i fly over it in hastings

[@perpetualgrin5804]

So sad she is gone, what a waste.

[@donwass5907]

Special breed to be in those confined spaces

[@wayneschenk5512]

Just did a tour of the Ovens much respect.

[@michaelgrey7854]

In my opinion, thr Oberons were the best subs Australia had.

[@freeagent8225]

They provided great service.

[@lucymcdee9109]

Michael Grey my dad was the engineer who fitted out their steering controls when built in Scotland.

[@Jmp5nb]

Thanks for the great video!

[@col210]

I was on the wharf at Plats to welcome her when she arrived for the first time.. oh the memories

[@Largeportion1000]

Tip of the sword lol, I was in pussers at the time and on board HMAS Stuart, hunting you cockers with our Mulloka sonar, always jealous of you boys in pirate rig though.

[@The_Comedian556]

Sad ending to this great ship. Rotted away for 20 years in western port bay only to end as scrap. Its currently at henderson being torn apart, they may have accomplished it by now.

[@jimbob1427]

They look like a happy crew.

[@rodneypeters5504]

Lots of familiar faces on this video, some still with us some on eternal patrol

[@gazzablanca]

I split the starboard generator on Otama in 1990 to remove the armature. Hardest job I ever did.

[@alexangelico2543]

Young guys running the show.

[@RF590KG84]

So that's what living in a camper van with no windows and 100 other people is like......

[@fnuking4387]

Life aboard an 'o' class was shit. Hot as hell, and stunk of diesel. No washing machines or DVD to watch. Aussie submariners have the respect of all their colleages. That is all

[@bustermk2]

They seem very casual. Singlets, shorts and sandals probably wouldn't be acceptable in today's navy. Mind you I imagine the conditions aboard the Oberons were a lot tougher than they are on a modern sub.

[@tonymagon8509]

I would think this would be normal in pirate rig at sea and in the tropics as well - Looks as though shw was coming from Far East area back to WA

[@myeflatley1150]

It would appear they dressed casually when they are not rowing. If they were rowing I am sure they would not be. As an actual man on board I am sure John Fisher could speak to that with accuracy. As for today's submarine Navy, I believe rowing attire is often acceptable. But then I may be wrong. You might have to join the Sub Service to find out. RSVP BYOO

[@benalderton3627]

pirate rig is still aloud i think

[@dalereed3950]

Well, this Service sure wasn't Silent. Even the wardrooms were noisy. Either that or the microphone was very sensitive. I thought the engines were quiet though. Flip flops?

[@guybeven7284]

Taken we were on the surface, we were very quiet when submerged.

[@kenjanes6657]

Good to see in side one again i never served on one. But i worked on them 1985 to 1990 at Cockatoo I don,t think there was one place i did not work in great TIMES

[@colinmacgregor8718]

I worked at Co-dock too.This sub came into dock after losing 2 men at sea in around 1989 or early 1990.Sad day for the lads onboard i would expect.

[@GUITARLEGEND956]

Scott Walker officer up top at the beginning. Good bloke.

[@petiotonchev8693]

Old,but looks good

[@LostCloudx4]

& now the poor fkn thing is rotting away

[@Match2100]

I know this comment is 12 months old but thought you might like to know they got a government grant to finally move her

[@scribendi777]

Really! Good stuff. Move her to Crib Point or back to Hastings?

[@Match2100]

I just had another look at the detail and unfortunately it was only an election promise by the LNP, so it may not happen either way (we all know what election promises are like)

[@henryhheron6723]

@@scribendi777 it is still in the area of hasting i fly over it in french island

[@janreznak881]

@@henryhheron6723 Being scrapped in WA as we speak.

[@bossdog1480]

It's hot in there and it stinks of diesel. Hats off to the guys who can hack it.

[@The_Comedian556]

Not a WRAN in sight, just a bunch of blocks enjoying the moment

[@pietervaness3229]

I HATE TO SEE ANY " BOAT" END LIKE HER

[@ollybgm]

@4:25 we in the UK now know who Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex father is!!

[@justgjt]

I see a familiar face in there... Andy Herringer

[@w.bridges9118]

The old stink boats were great for their time.

[@stephenflanagan8518]

Im not ADF. Didn't know the worn plain clothes downunder. 😊 Figured, uniforms. Where are the windows?

[@justinmckenzie7100]

Sheeeez mate you Chuck a brown eye like that in this day and age,and a lot of people get excited,not me tho, carry on sailor!

[@ATEmedia]

Was this actually filmed on HMAS Otama?

[@alphasixfive1658]

Who is the CO? I don't recognize him.

[@guybeven7284]

dennis mole

[@eddieheal3157]

No uniform day.???.well who's going to see them. Nice one

[@andrewhodges6612]

We didn't have to wear uniform on Otama we could wear whatever we wanted. I served on Otama 1988-1990.

[@keithhowe5093]

No laundry onboard, and you could only shower once a week.

[@LeftIsBest001]

Where are their uniforms? Who's running this ship?

[@CJ-xk7vs]

Ah some real sailors. Where's all your rabbits.

[@gregaussie5254]

Bit different from the movies , all you land lovers, reminds me of " Dasboot" my mate left surface and went to subs in 80 and seen him year later , stank of desel fuel , in his skin , hair etc , he was a sparky like me , etp

[@guybeven7284]

It was a great life.

[@adamwest1138]

My dad was an EWP on Ovens and Otway in the 90s

[@bobboy53]

Mates Daryl Cross, (DC), Phil Vine, Steve Buick all went to subs back in the 70's from the SWAN,, they stayed and loved it ??? Me stayed a Skimmer UC world rocks

[@B3nji_au]

Phil Vine is my old man 👍

[@bobboy53]

@@B3nji_au could tell you lots of story about him LOL.. all good RIP

[@B3nji_au]

I would love to hear them

[@sacredsite]

I know those names from my time on the fluffy duck.

[@keithdrower9120]

Cheeky Bugger.

[@gunfet]

Moon shot. Bum navigation.

[@alphasixfive1658]

Full Moon

[@nathanroberts355]

If hmas onslow gets recommission and back into ran submarine fleet i be the lieutenant commander of hmas onslow Oberon class submarine

[@stevejory9679]

Don't take any notice of the humour or larrikin behaviour, it's a shallow cover for their professionalism.

[@dazmandawson]

Until someone has served on a submarine, been away for home for months at a time, living in each other's space, sharing big chunks of their life with each other, having good days bad days, not a lot of personal space, looking out for each other if it means a little self sacrifice, It's professionalism that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

[@phoneticau]

Before political correctness took hold in the ADF

[@stumit63_tech]

About the time it started to take hold.

[@ZoeBrain]

There were gals aboard even then. Only contractors and civies from SWSC (Submarine Warfare Systems Centre) though. Making g sure we had UGM84 and link11 capability working rather than Tango Uniform. Slept on palettes on Mk48 mod3 and 4. Getting the smell of diesel out of my hair took ages after coming ashore.

[@paulhathway7076]

welcome to Mchales navy, unbelievable, especially that clown on the bridge, a real class act. get your shit together fellas and get a lot more professional, I really wonder what the Australian public think of all this, I bet you don't care.

[@guybeven7284]

You have no idea you idiot, suggest you serve in boats before you judge.

[@benalderton3627]

until you’ve been on a boat yourself don’t judge others bet your to wet to go on a boat anyway

[@billyhunt3320]

That clown and "Mchales Navy" crew were the same crew that were dived, underneath a Russian warship taking pictures gathering intel during the cold War. That crew never saw daylight for those 6 weeks. That crew lived in conditions that pale in comparison to detention centres. With fresh water limited that crew would be lucky to shower once a week. What would the public think? Don't know and your probably right don't care... but they don't award medals to clowns. These guys received the Australian service medal special operations for their professionalism and bravery.

[@18russ]

From your remarks you obviously never served in boats. There is an adage I was taught from an early age " It is better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"

[@lmlmd2714]

You know this was filmed 30 years ago, right? It's on an Oberon class sub, FFS.

[@Glynnwilliamson]

no uniforms??

[@MurrayJoe]

I put a comment up here, but while editing it I accidentally deleted it. What I wrote was, ”Didn’t a person get killed when the submarine dived while he was still outside of the submarine.” Several people mentioned that there were actually two submariners who were killed. I googled it and there is a bit about the tragedy in Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Otama

[@rooster56100]

@frauditorwatch No, you got the date wrong mate, we didn't bring the Otama back to Aus until late '79/80. My understanding is that it happened about 18 months after I left the boat, and I left her in 1980. How they missed 2 people before diving is beyond me, we used to do a head count in the Control Room before blowing main ballast and diving after the lids were confirmed shut.

[@rooster56100]

@frauditorwatch heheh, no need to apologize mate, we all suffer from that affliction 😅

[@adamwest1138]

@@rooster56100 The thing that really pisses me off about that was the officers at fault didn't cooperate with the inquiry and the RAN promoted both of them shortly after

[@nigelwatkins558]

ARE WE GOING TO RESTART The Fincastle trophy ???

[@MarioGon-y5r]

Fajny film