hmas ovens virtual tour

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Virtual Tour

Take a fascinating 360° virtual reality tour of submarine HMAS Ovens from the comfort of your own home.

Situated on Fremantle's historic World War Two submarine slipway, this unique tour offers the rare chance to get up close and explore the inside of a decommissioned Royal Australian Navy submarine. 

This tour also features selected photos and video which provide a glimpse into the daily lives of submariners and the equipment onboard. 

Created in partnership with EventSpace3D and with assistance from the Submarines Association Australia (WA Branch).

[ Take a virtual tour of  HMAS Ovens  click here ]

HMAS Ovens volunteer guide and tour. Credit: Aeroture 2022

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Submarine Ovens

Ovens was the first submarine in australia to be preserved as a museum boat, visit submarine ovens at visit.museum.wa.gov.au/maritime, during her 26-year life ovens operated in the world’s three major oceans and travelled more than 410,000 nautical miles (759,320 km).

At the heart of the WA Maritime Museum, Victoria Quay, on Fremantle’s historic World War ll slipway, rests the authentic Cold War-era submarine HMAS Ovens. Although de-commissioned by the RAN in 1995 Ovens remains in a very real way, a “working” vessel.

Regular hour-long tours, mostly guided by former submariners, allow members of the public to experience at first-hand the cramped and spartan conditions aboard; climbing flights of scaffold stairs, down steeply inclined ladders and over bulkheads, maneuvering through the eerie confined spaces that regularly housed 63 crew, with the addition of up to 16 trainees on occasion. Tour participants are told intimate details about living and serving aboard the celebrated vessel, amidst complex controls, sensors, tactical equipment and torpedoes.

One of six Oberon Class submarines commissioned by the RAN, Ovens is over 90m long and weighs 1400 tons. It remains fully equipped but is now used exclusively for display purposes and tours. Ovens was the first submarine in Australia to be preserved as a museum boat.

The moving and popular exhibit serves as a living memorial to submariners and those who gave their lives while serving from Fremantle during World War II. In 1970, Ovens visited ports in New Zealand and was used to train NZ Navy vessels in anti-submarine warfare.

In 1972, Ovens achieved a first when she was deployed to South East Asia to serve with the ANZUK force, the first RAN submarine to do so.

And in 1976 after refitting at Cockatoo dockyard in Sydney OVENS returned to sea fitted with ANBQG Micro Puffs passive-ranging sonar. This too was a first and marked a major milestone in the improvement of submarine Force operational capability. That year Ovens embarked on a five-and-a-half-month deployment in the Far East where she participated in the Kangaroo 2 multinational exercise, claiming successful “attacks” on 170,000 tonnes of shipping, including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Returning to submarine base HMAS Platypus after the exercise, the submarine sailed into Sydney Harbour celebrating its own version of a “clean sweep” by lashing a broom to her attack periscope.

Like many of the class, HMAS OVENS followed the traditions of the Royal Navy submarine community and carried a totally unauthorised self-styled ‘Jolly Roger’ flag – a campaign/action ensign showing a record of attacks, battles, patrols, surveillance ops etc. A “highlight” for the peacetime warriors in OVENS came during an exercise in 1987, when the submarine became the first RAN submarine to fire an armed Mark 48 torpedo. This successfully sank her target, the de-commissioned Bathurst-class corvette HMAS Colac. When Ovens returned to port, her crew hoisted the Jolly Roger in celebration.

Notably, some two years later OVENS recorded another significant first when she fired the first live Harpoon missile and sank the target vessel.

During her 26-year life Ovens operated in the world’s three major oceans and travelled more than 410,000 nautical miles (759,320 km).

Photos of HMAS Ovens

HMAS Ovens On the Web

Hmas ovens | western australian museum.

HMAS Ovens . The Oberon class Submarine HMAS Ovens is an authentic Cold War-era vessel situated on Fremantle's historic World War Two submarine slipway. This exhibit serves as a living memorial to submariners and those who gave their lives while serving from Fremantle during World War Two.

HMAS Ovens | Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ovens was the third of six Oberon Class diesel electric patrol submarines built for the Royal Australian Navy at an initial cost of $9 million. The Oberon Class, or 'O' boats as they became known, were built by the Scott Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Greenock, Scotland. Designed for quiet running, the Oberon's were both ...

HMAS Ovens - Wikipedia

HMAS Ovens (S 70) was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She was one of six Oberons built for the Royal Australian Navy by the Scottish Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, and entered service in 1969.The vessel was named for Irishman and Australian explorer John Ovens (1788-1825) and for whom the Victorian river Ovens was named.

HMAS Ovens: Take a virtual tour | Western Australian Museum

Take a fascinating 360 ° virtual reality tour of submarine HMAS Ovens from the comfort of your own home.. Situated on Fremantle's historic World War Two submarine slipway, t his unique tour offers the rare chance to get up close and explore the inside of a decommissioned Royal Australian Navy submarine.. This tour also features selected photos and video which provide a glimpse into the daily ...

HMAS Ovens - Victoria Quay Road, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia

HMAS Ovens is a business providing services in the field of Tourist attraction, Point of interest, Establishment, . The business is located in Victoria Quay Road, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia. Their telephone number is +1 1300134081 .

HMAS Ovens - Joy of Museums Virtual Tours

HMAS Ovens HMAS Ovens (S 70) was an Oberon-class submarine of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The vessel was named for Irishman and Australian explorer John Ovens (1788-1825) and for whom the Victorian river Ovens was named. Ovens was the first RAN submarine to deploy with the ANZUK force. Ovens became the first RAN submarine […]

HMAS Ovens | Explore | Australian Register of Historic Vessels ...

HMAS OVENS was built at Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Co Ltd, at Greenock, Scotland. The 90 metre long hull is uilt of steel but moulded fibreglass is used extensively in casings and the sail or fin. It has a diesel electric propulsion system using twin English Electric motors powered by two 16 cylinder Admiralty Standard diesel generators. On the surface HMAS OVENS could travel at 15 ...

Submarine Tour - HMAS Ovens - YouTube

Submarines have held a fascination for people of all ages, ever since men took to the seas in ships. As part of the Maritime Museum in Freemantle, Western Au...

Hot sub time machine: A photo tour of the HMAS Ovens submarine

The Oberon-class submarine HMAS Ovens was built for the Royal Australian Navy and served for 26 years. Now she sits beside the Western Australian Maritime Museum. Here's a full photo tour.

HMAS Ovens | Oberon Class Submarine Documentary #RAN # ... - YouTube

"Wear them with Pride". RAN documentary about the Oberon class submarine HMAS Ovens .

Questions & Answers

What is the phone number for hmas ovens.

The phone number for HMAS Ovens is 1300134081.

Where is HMAS Ovens located?

HMAS Ovens is located at Victoria Quay Road, Fremantle WA 6160, Australia

What is the internet address for HMAS Ovens?

The website (URL) for HMAS Ovens is: http://museum.wa.gov.au/museums/maritime

What days are HMAS Ovens open?

HMAS Ovens is open: Monday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Tuesday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday:9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

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3D Virtual Tour WA Maritime Museum – HMAS Ovens

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Hot sub time machine: A photo tour of the HMAS Ovens submarine

The Oberon-class submarine HMAS Ovens was built for the Royal Australian Navy and served for 26 years. Now she sits beside the Western Australian Maritime Museum. Here's a full photo tour.

When you think of major submarine bases ( if you think of major submarine bases), you might think of New London, Kings Bay, Pearl Harbor, maybe Rybachiy. But... Fremantle?

During World War II, Fremantle, on the west coast of Australia, was actually one of the largest submarine bases in the world, and largest in the southern hemisphere, home to over 160 submarines.

Fitting, then, that the silent service would have a representative here, in the form of the Oberon-class HMAS Ovens .

The diesel-powered ship was not named after a gas range . Rather, it honors Irishman and Australian explorer John Ovens (1788-1825). Here's a full tour.

A photo tour of the Oberon-class HMAS Ovens submarine (pictures)

Laid down in Greenock, Scotland, in 1966, launched in 1967 and commissioned in 1969, the Ovens is a little over 295 feet long, 26.5 feet wide. This is a reasonable size for a diesel sub, but certainly far smaller than modern nuclear boats (like the nuclear missile submarine Redoutable I toured last year ).

Two supercharged V16 generators supplied power to two 3,500 horsepower electric motors. This gave her a range of 9,000 nautical miles at maximum of 12 knots (the same speed she was capable of on the surface). She could do up to 17 knots submerged. The diesel fuel, as is the case with most diesel subs, is stored between the outer hull and the pressure hull, and is replaced by seawater when used (to maintain balance).

Crew life was better than on WWII boats, with no hot bunking (except for a pair of rookies) for the crew of upward of 68. Everyone but the captain, though, shared a room with at least one other. Showers were limited to "Once a week, whether you need it or not."

My tour guide was a former chief petty officer on the Ovens, Garry Coombe, who shared stories such as how they rescued multiple sinking sailboats, and refueled motorboats adrift in the middle of the ocean.

Think about that for a minute. You're sailing your yacht, as you do, and ACK! Jeeves forgot to top up the tanks. You call for help, and a short time later a submarine arrives to give you a splash of diesel.

Decommissioned in 1995, she now rests alongside the Western Australian Maritime Museum , of which she's a part.

Unlike most submarine tours, this one is only guided, and you need to book a time.

The rest of the museum, though small, has some cool exhibits about the history of fishing and shipping in Western Australia.

If you're in Perth, it's worth the trip down (the museum is an easy walk from the train/bus station). If you have the option, definitely take a tour with Garry.

As well as covering audio and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines , aircraft carriers , medieval castles , epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.

Also check out Budget Travel for Dummies , his travel book, and his bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube . 

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HMAS Ovens Tour WA Maritime Museum

HMAS Ovens Tour

Situated on Fremantle's historic World War Two submarine slipway, this unique tour offers the rare chance to get up close and explore the inside of a decommissioned Royal Australian Navy submarine, hosted by our expert volunteers.

The Oberon class Submarine HMAS Ovens is an authentic Cold War-era vessel situated on Fremantle’s historic World War Two submarine slipway.

Guided tours of the submarine reveal intimate details about living and serving aboard the 89 metre long vessel. Amongst controls, sensors, tactical equipment and torpedoes, 63 people lived and served aboard the vessel in extremely cramped conditions.

Find out what life is like aboard a submarine and immerse yourself in Fremantle’s secret wartime history.

Event dates

Event details.

Bookings Our daily HMAS Ovens tours are hosted by expert volunteers and are subject to session time availability.

Please call ahead if you have a larger group or if you are concerned about weather conditions. Tours can be cancelled because of severe weather conditions. This includes high winds, thunderstorms, and high temperatures. Tickets will be refunded in such events.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour is due to commence.

The tour takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.

We advise planning your transport ahead of time, as parking is limited at Victoria Quay. We recommend using public transport on weekends and school holidays.

Health and safety The tour includes climbing 9-metre-high scaffolding stairs, steeply inclined ladders and bending through narrow hatchways. A reasonable level of fitness, freedom from significant injuries, and the ability to climb independently (without walking aids) are required.

For safety reasons, children must be over the age of six and at least 100 centimetres tall to participate in the submarine tour.

Please see the Conditions of Entry.

Daily | Every half hour, 10am – 3.30pm Subject to availability

• Companion Cards accepted
• Refreshments Available
• Accessible toilets

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HMAS Ovens Submarine School Tours

Monday to Friday during term Commencing at 10am every 30 minutes

$75 per school tour group session

8 students per school tour group session 1-2 adults required per school tour group session

See booking information below

Our decommissioned Oberon class submarine—HMAS Ovens — is an authentic Cold War-era vessel situated on Fremantle's historic WWII submarine slipway, just next to the WA Maritime Museum.

Students participating in this program will:

• Journey onboard an authentic Submarine and explore the daily lives of submariners
• Learn about the construction of the HMAS Ovens Submarine, and the equipment on board
• Visit the Naval Defence Gallery and view submarine related objects such as the World War One Tenix AE2 submarine conning tower

At the Museum

What your class will experience.

Students participating in this two-part program will:

Part A: Submarine Tour  (Ground floor of the WA Maritime Museum and outside onboard HMAS Ovens )

• Journey onboard an authentic submarine and explore the daily lives of submariners
• Learn about the construction of the HMAS Ovens  submarine and the equipment on board

Part B: Self-guided Museum visit  (Level Two of the WA Maritime Museum)

• Visit the  Naval Defence Gallery and view submarine related objects such as the World War One  Tenix AE2  submarine conning tower

Booking instructions

• We currently do not take online bookings for Submarine School Tours
• Please read the  Conditions of Entry for Submarine School Tours , as proceeding with a booking confirms agreement
• Email  [email protected]  or call us on 1300 134 081 to discuss your options
• Have your preferred dates and times ready when you contact us
• Bookings need to be made 14 days before the date of your visit
• Advanced payment will be required to secure your booking and you will require your school's payment card (we accept VISA or Mastercard)
• Payment can be made over the phone or a payment link will be sent to you
• Once your payment is processed you will receive a confirmation email of your booking. This email is also your tax invoice and receipt for the credit card holder

Please note that if you cancel your booking within 14 days of your visit, you will be required to pay the full cost of the excursion. Changes to dates and times are subject to availability.

Curriculum links

Programs and exhibitions at the WA Museum support teachers in their delivery of the WA Curriculum to their students. The Submarine Tour has potential links to a variety of areas from both the HASS and Sciences Curriculum.

Health & Safety Information (Conditions of Entry)

• Students must be in Year 4 or higher and a minimum of 100cm tall.
• Students must demonstrate a reasonable level of fitness, freedom from significant injuries, and the ability to climb independently without mobility aids to complete the tour. Mobility aids include wheelchairs, walking frames and crutches.
• The tour involves climbing 9-metre high scaffolding stairs with gaps, steeply inclined ladders, and bending through narrow hatchways. Please refer to the images in the Conditions of Entry as a guide.
• Flat shoes with enclosed toes are recommended. Thongs are not permitted. High Heels are not permitted to be worn by adult helpers.
• No loose hand-held items are permitted, including bulky backpacks and cameras. Lockers are available for hire to secure these items, please enquire at the WA Maritime Museum front desk.
• The HMAS Ovens Submarine is a significant historical collection item, please refrain from touching the vessel other than as necessary for the tour.
• Food and drinks are not permitted on the vessel.
• There are no toilet facilities on board the Submarine.
• Submarine tours may be cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. Your tour will be rescheduled or refunded. The Museum is not responsible for any other cost your group may incur due to a cancellation.
• In the event you are required to evacuate the vessel, please remain with your tour group and follow instructions from the Museum representative.

Download the Conditions of Entry for Submarine School Tours [PDF 453KB]

Submarine School Tours are approximately 60 minutes in duration. 

School Tour Groups, consisting of 8 students and 1-2 adult helpers, are pulsed through the submarine in 30-minute intervals.

For example, if you have a class of 32 students you will need to allow a minimum of 2.5 hours (not including your arrival/leaving times) to complete all the Submarine Tours as you will have 4 tour groups to pulse through the Submarine.

Planning your visit

Specific to this program

• Before arriving at the Museum please have students already organised into groups with a maximum of eight students in each, with 1-2 adult helpers assigned to each group. This will allow for groups to be pulsed through the Submarine. Students who have behavioural issues should be grouped with the class teacher or teachers aide who can adequately supervise them if needed.  
• Students will NOT require any pencils/paper or clipboards onboard the Submarine.  
• Please ensure you have read the Health & Safety information and conveyed this to your students in your permission slips to parents.  
• In the lead up to your excursion please note the weather conditions and dress your students accordingly.  
• Please ensure you are contactable in the lead up to the excursion in the rare occasion that we may need to cancel your tour.  
• Submarine tours start promptly at the allotted start time.

General to WA Maritime Museum

• On arrival at the Museum, please check in at the Front Desk to confirm your student numbers, booked session times and emergency contact details.  
• The Museum is open from 9.30am for access to toilets and storage of bags etc.  
• If you are running late please contact the WA Maritime Museum front desk on 9431 8334 , or the Customer Relations Team on 1300 134 081 .
• Further information can be found in the  WA Maritime Museum Excursion Management Guide  
• Getting to the WA Maritime Museum

Education resources and excursion extensions

While in Fremantle, you might like to extend your excursion with the following suggestion:

• Continue your exploration of military history with a visit to the Army Museum of Western Australia . The Army Museum offers a wide range of learning opportunities that will fascinate students of all levels. Through historical artefacts, artwork, photographs and interactive presentations, the Museum’s school programs help students discover Western Australia’s rich military history.

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