Mark Oliver - The Australian Navy
Joined Navy in 1979 - nearly 16 yrs old
- HMAS Nirimba was first posting
- Completed basic training in 1981
- After graduating was posted to HMAS Cerberus to carry out Auxiliary Machinery Training
- Was then posted to HMAS Lonsdale in Melbourne
- HMAS Paramatta in Williamstown was posted for 2 years as a destroyer escort
- Worked in the boiler room and Shipwright Shop
- HMAS Cerberus posting for 2 years to work in the Shipwrights shop
- HMAS Nirimba for welding course completion
- HMAS Stuart posting in Sydney Harbour
- Went to WA for a few years on HMAS Derwent
- In February 1987 HMAS Stuart and HMAS Derwent swapped home ports
- 1987 volunteered for the submarine squadron and decided that's what he wanted to do
- HMAS Platypus in Sydney Harbour - Submariners training
- Posted to HMAS Orion - mystery boat or spook
- Oberon Class submarines (O Boats)
- 90 m in length x 8.1m wide
- missiles, mines, torpedoes cold be launched
- surface speed of 11 knots
- safe diving depth of 600 feet
- 63-75 ships company crew
- worked 6 hours on and 6 hours off
- the galley ran 24/7 for 4 meals per day
- water rationing was important (shower once a week)
- there were the occasional food shortages (or toilet paper)
- life on O boats was lonely and perilous with communication from families withheld if bad
- claustrophobic
- Stranded for a month in Singapore, (in 5-star accommodation)
- Spent a total of 12 years in the Navy and do not regret the life I had
- Made lifelong friends and comradeship
- There are now Collins class submarines
- HMAS Onslow was my last submarine, and it is now retiring in Darling Harbour Sydney
- Mark recommends everyone to visit one of these boats and imagine the life the submariners
- Braved and balanced men who knew what they were doing, and they do vital work for their country