*Canada, Post WW2-1965, HMCS Ojibwa (S 72) – Two Named Brass Model Oberon-Class Submarines*
Approximate Measurements:
Large Brass Model with Wooden Base and Engraved Name Tag: H.M.C.S. Ojibwa:
Base: 20.5cm x 10 x 3cm
Brass Submarine with moveable rudders: 31cm x 6.5cm tall x 3.4cm width
Small Brass Model Engraved: H.M.C.S. Ojibwa – S 72 – Sept 1965 (date it entered service)
17.8cm x 2.8cm tall x 2.3cm wide
About HMCS Ojibwa
HMCS Ojibwa is an Oberon-class submarine that served the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and later Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM). Originally intended for the Royal Navy as HMS Onyx, the submarine was transferred to Canada before completion and entered service in 1965. Primarily operating with Maritime Forces Atlantic, Ojibwa was decommissioned in 1998. In 2012, she was moved to Port Burwell, Ontario, to become a museum ship, opening to the public in 2013 as part of a planned naval history museum.
Design and Modifications
The Oberon class improved upon the earlier Porpoise class, featuring stronger hulls for deeper dives (up to 1,000 feet). Ojibwa displaced 2,030 tons surfaced and 2,410 tons submerged, measured 295 feet in length, and had a diesel-electric propulsion system with a surface speed of 12 knots and a submerged speed of 17 knots. Canadian modifications included adjustments for US Mark 37C torpedoes and enhanced sonar and communication systems.
The Submarine Operational Update Program (SOUP) refit in the 1980s upgraded Ojibwa with improved sonar, fire-control systems, and torpedo tubes capable of firing Mark 48 torpedoes, allowing it to monitor Soviet submarines during the Cold War.
Service and Cold War Operations
After commissioning, Ojibwa joined the First Canadian Submarine Squadron and focused on anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering. It conducted NATO patrols in the Atlantic, tracking Soviet submarines and participating in joint training exercises. Ojibwa was also used to monitor European fishing fleets during the 1995 Turbot War.
Delays in introducing the Victoria-class submarines led to Ojibwa serving beyond its life expectancy. In 1994, the submarine underwent a major refit, replacing its engines with parts from HMS Osiris. Mechanical issues marked its later years, and it was retired in 1998.
Museum Ship
After decommissioning, Ojibwa was transferred to the Elgin Military Museum in Ontario. Following a complex journey from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Port Burwell in 2012, the submarine was repainted and prepared for display. It opened as part of the Museum of Naval History in 2013, offering public tours and preserving a key piece of Canada’s naval heritage.
About Oberon-Class
The Oberon class consisted of 27 British-designed submarines operated by five nations, serving during the Cold War. Developed as a successor to the Porpoise class, they shared similar dimensions but featured stronger hull materials and upgraded equipment. Known for their exceptional quietness, Oberon submarines excelled in surveillance, ship and submarine tracking, special forces operations, and anti-submarine training.
Built between 1957 and 1978 across four shipyards, 13 served with the Royal Navy, six with the Royal Australian Navy, three each with the Brazilian and Canadian Navies (plus two ex-Royal Navy subs used in Canada), and two with the Chilean Navy. They remained operational until 2000, replaced by newer classes like the Collins in Australia and Victoria in Canada.
*Condition*
Excellent used condition. The baize is worn on the base of the larger model. Minor marks and scratches to both. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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