Formal hand-over of submarine HMAS Ovens to Maritime Museum

20/12/98

The Royal Australian Navy today formally handed over one of its submarines - HMAS Ovens - to the Western Australian Government's Maritime Museum in Fremantle.

Arts Minister Peter Foss, accepted the vessel on behalf of the Government at a ceremony at Fremantle's Victoria Quay.

"Once display preparation is completed, Ovens will be incorporated into the new Maritime Museum Precinct and will become the first complete Royal Australian Navy submarine display in Australia," Mr Foss said.

"It will allow visitors to the Maritime Museum a unique opportunity to see how submarines work and observe life on board and under the waves."

The Oberon-class submarine HMAS Ovens, named after early Australian explorer, John Ovens, was commissioned on April 15, 1969. Within the operational submarine there are two generators with the capacity of a large town's power station, the equivalent of 12 road tankers of diesel fuel, 200 tonnes of batteries (which have been removed by the Navy) a kitchen capable of cooking for 64 sailors, 30 tonnes of fresh water and an airconditioning unit the same size as a plant in a large public building in Perth. There were also 22 weapons including torpedoes and missiles.

"The submarine will be an important feature of the naval display at the new Maritime Museum, given Fremantle's premier role in World War II as a major submarine base in the Southern Hemisphere," Mr Foss said.

"Ovens will be representative of the complex work carried by the submarines of the Royal Australian Navy and will stand as a memorial to the sacrifices submariners have made over the years.

"The project is the product of a major team effort with the support of the Royal Australian Navy, the National Submarine History Task Force, the Friends of the Submarine Museum, the Fremantle Port Authority and the staff of the WA Maritime Museum."

Media contacts: Chris Morris 9321 2222 Graham Henderson Maritime Museum 9431 8466