Odin Class



Early Patrol Submarine

Holland Class Submarine

  • Odin Class
  • Odin
  • Olympus
  • Orpheus
  • Osiris
  • Oswald
  • Otus

The 'O' class were built to replace the 'L' class which were considered not to have the endurance to serve in the Far East. They carried approximately 200 tons more fuel than the 'L' class which was carried in riveted exterior saddle tanks.

One of the faults with this class was the FUEL tanks which were prone to leaking and left a tell tale streak on the surface.

Odin, Olympus, Orpheus, and Oswald were war losses the survivors by 1942 were used for training.

6 Built

Submarine Builder Built
Osiris
Otus
Oswald
Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness 1928
Odin H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. 1928
Olympus
Orpheus
Beardmore, Dalmuir. 1928
1929

Technical Information

Displacement (tons): 1,475 sf
2,038 sm
Length (ft): 283.5 oa
Breadth (ft) 29' 10" oa
Draught/Height (ft): 16' 1"
Machinery: Admiralty Diesel 4,400 hp diesel engine.
1,320 electric motor. Twin screws.
Speed (kts): 17.5 sf
10 sm
Oil Supply (tons): 200 tons
Armament: 8 x 21 inch tubes, 6 bow, 2 stern.
14 reloads.
1 x 4 inch gun. 2x machine gun.
Range: 8,500 miles at 10 knots sf.
Complement: 50-56 officers and ratings.
sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, oa = overall, hp = horsepower, na = not available.

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Odin Crest

HM Submarine Odin
H.M. Submarine Odin

Type: Odin Class  
Pennant No.: 84P
84.N
N.84
 
Laid Down: 23rd July 1927. H.M. Dockyard, Chatham.
Commissioned: 21st December 1929. Not known at present.
Commander: 1940. Lt. Cdr. K. MacI. Woods.
Complement: 56. 5 Officers and 51 Ratings.
Service Career: 1929-1930.
1930-1939.
1939-1940 - 8th Flotilla.
1940 - 1st Flotilla.
Portsmouth.
Hong Kong.
Lucia, Columbo.
HMS Medway, Alexandria.
(At Malta in June 1940).
  Sank by the Italian destroyer Strale in the Gulf of Taranto.
Fate: Sank by Italian destroyer June 1940.
It should be noted that although some boats were attached to H.M.S. Medway at Singapore, they often operated in a detached mode covering the China Station such as Hong Kong and even to the point of patrolling the Siberian Coast.

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Olympus Crest

HM Submarines Parthian and Olympus
H.M. Submarines Parthian and Olympus
HM Submarine Olympus
H.M. Submarine Olympus

Type: Odin Class  
Pennant No.: 35.P
35.N
N.35
 
Laid Down: 14th April 1927. Beardmore, Dalmuir.
Commissioned: 14th June 1930. Not known at present.
Commander: 1939
1942.
Cdr. H. V. King.
Lt. Cdr. H. D. Dymott.
Complement: 56. 5 Officers and 51 Ratings.
Service Career: 1930-1931.
1931-1939.
1939-1940 - 8th Flotilla.
19401942 - 1st Flotilla.
Portsmouth.
China Station.
Lucia, Columbo.
Malta.
  Cdr. King was awarded the O.B.E. for carrying out an unsuccessful pursuit of the Graf Spee which had sunk the 'Africa Shell' in the Mozambique Channel on 15th November 1939.
Whilst in dry dock in Malta in July 1940 was hit by a bomb and put out of action for some considerable time.
1941, sinks or damages a small transporter of around 1.800 tons.
This boat had been adapted for carrying stores and personnel to and from Malta.
When leaving Malta on 8th May 1942 she had, with her own crew and passengers, a total of 98 people onboard.
Fate: Lost, possibly mined, off Malta, 9 survivors.
It should be noted that although some boats were attached to H.M.S. Medway at Singapore, they often operated in a detached mode covering the China Station such as Hong Kong and even to the point of patrolling the Siberian Coast.

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Orpheus Crest

HM Submarine Orpheus
H.M. Submarine Orpheus

Type: Odin Class  
Pennant No.: 46.P
N.46
 
Laid Down: Not known at present. Beardmore, Dalmuir.
Commissioned: 23rd September 1930. Not known at present.
Commander: 1934
1940.
W. Barry.
Lt. Cdr. J.A.S. Wise.
Complement: 56. 5 Officers and 51 Ratings.
Service Career: 1930-1931
1931-1939
1939-1940 - 8th Flotilla.
1940
Portsmouth
China Station
Lucia, Colombo.
Malta
  Possibly sunk by the Italian destroyer Tribune off Tobruk around 19th June 1940.
No survivors.
Fate: Sank by Italian destroyer June 1940.
It should be noted that although some boats were attached to H.M.S. Medway at Singapore, they often operated in a detached mode covering the China Station such as Hong Kong and even to the point of patrolling the Siberian Coast.

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Osiris Crest

HM Submarine Osiris
H.M. Submarine Osiris

Type: Odin Class  
Pennant No.: 67.P
N.67
 
Laid Down: 12th May 1927. Vickers-Armstrong,
Barrow-in-Furness.
Commissioned: 27th February 1929. Not known at present.
Commander: 1940 Lt. Cdr. J.R. Harvey.
Complement: 56. 5 Officers and 51 Ratings.
Service Career: 1929-1930
1930-1937
1938-1939
1939-1942
1942-1944
Portsmouth
China Station
Portsmouth
Mediterranean
East Indies
  Sank the Italian destroyer Pelestro near Brindisi on 22nd September 1940.
Fate: Sold and scrapped in South Africa September 1946.

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Oswald Crest

HM Submarine Oswald
H.M. Submarine Oswald

Type: Odin Class  
Pennant No.: 58.P
N.58
 
Laid Down: 30th May 1927. Vickers-Armstrong,
Barrow-in-Furness.
Commissioned: 1st May 1929. Not known at present.
Commander: 1940
1940
Cdr. G.M. Sladen.
Lt. Cdr. D.A. Fraser.
Complement: 56. 5 Officers and 51 Ratings.
Service Career: 1929-1930
1930-1937
1938-1939
1939-1940 - 1st Flotilla.
Portsmouth
China Station
Portsmouth
Malta.
  Sunk by Italian destroyer Vivaldi 1st/2nd August 1940.
Fate: Lost after being rammed by Italian destroyer Vivaldi, 52 survivors.

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Otus Crest

HM Submarine Otus
H.M. Submarine Otus

Type: Odin Class  
Pennant No.: 92.P
N.92
 
Laid Down: 31st May 1927. Vickers-Armstrong,
Barrow-in-Furness.
Commissioned: 5th July 1929. Not known at present.
Commander: 1942 Lt. R.M. Favell.
Complement: 56. 5 Officers and 51 Ratings.
Service Career: 1929-1930
1930-1939
1939-1940
1940-1942
1942
1942
1943
Portsmouth
China Station
East Indies
Mediterranean
Transporting supplies to Malta
Home Waters
South Atlantic
   
Fate: Sold and scuttled in South Africa May 1946/1949.
It should be noted that although some boats were attached to H.M.S. Medway at Singapore, they often operated in a detached mode covering the China Station such as Hong Kong and even to the point of patrolling the Siberian Coast.

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