Life on one of HM’s Cold War Diesel Subs
BBC Magazine has a great article told from interviews with former sailors of the HMS Ocelot. HMS Ocelot (S17) was an Oberon-class diesel-electric submarine laid down by HM Dockyard at Chatham in Kent and commissioned in 1964. The small 2000-ton/295-foot ‘O-boat’ served the RN for a quarter century before being turned into a museum ship in 1991.
HMS Ocelot with her paying off pennant
“”The submarine stank,” says Dixie. “It stank of diesel, sweat, fags and food. Water was rationed, particularly if you were going on a sneaky [a spying operation] because you didn’t know how long you’d be gone for. There was only a small bowlful a week to wash and shave in. So no-one bothered.”
Even worse, on long patrols, bags of rubbish built up and festered in the gangways. “It couldn’t be got off the boat as it would give away our position to the enemy”, explains Billy. “So it stayed there until we could dispose of it safely.”
The crew could wear what they wanted once the boat had put to sea. Known as “pirate rig” this was often just a pair of old jeans or shorts and a top, which were rarely changed. Billy recalls Dixie’s socks would “stick to the wall” if thrown. He’s also alleged to have worn a teddy boy suit and brothel creepers, although Dixie denies this. ”