With the sun bouncing off her newly painted hull, HM Submarine OCELOT drew admiring glances from the assembled crowds who’d gathered on Saturday 7th May to celebrate the 60th birthday of the final submarine to be built at Chatham Dockyard for the Royal Navy. OCELOT’S special birthday was attended by Dockyard workers from the past and present, submariners, Naval officers and former crew members. A Cold War veteran, HMS OCELOT was launched in May 1962 from No. 7 Slip at Chatham Docky ...

Chris Reynolds has his feet firmly on dry land now on St Mary’s Island in Kent but HMS Ocelot was the first submarine he served in as a qualified submariner having previously qualified in another diesel submarine. His love for the submarine HM Ocelot, who celebrates her 60th birthday on the 5th May this year, is evident when he speaks about his time onboard and in the service which saw him go on to Captain her sister submarine HMS Otter. Chris says: “As a Lieutenant my role as fifth hand an ...

HMS Ocelot hails from a by-gone age when the Cold War was simple: it was east versus west, and everyone knew where they stood. Today, the international picture is far more confused, with alliances no longer black and white. But what can we learn from the days of Ocelot, and O-boats like her, that can be applied to the new Cold War era? Our Chairman, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE DL, rose through the ranks to command the Royal Navy as Commander in Chief, but his first command was as Captain of ...

Built in No.7 Slip, Ocelot represents the last phase of shipbuilding at Chatham and she was the last Royal Navy warship built here. In this blog we will uncover the history of this iconic O-Class submarine in celebration of Ocelot’s 60th Birthday. We will also dive into the lives and perspectives of those who have a connection to Ocelot and O-Class submarines from John de Rose helping to build O-Class submarines, to our Chairman, Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE DL Captaining Ocelot and Ala ...

HM Submarine Ocelot was an Oberon-Class submarine and in its day was one of the most technically advanced in the world. The last warship built at Chatham for the Royal Navy and launched in May 1962. HM Submarine Ocelot represents a major landmark in the history of Chatham Dockyard. Ocelot’s diesel electric engines were built and designed at Chatham Dockyard. Chatham built 57 Submarines between 1908 and 1966 – more than at any other Royal Dockyard. Decommissioned in 1991 she was acquired ...

Meet Tim Stopford, one of our volunteers and author of “The A-Z of Royal Naval Ships’ badges 1919-1989.” As part of a wider team of volunteers, he has been working hard to make sure HM Submarine Ocelot is ready for her 60th Birthday on 5 May. This replica crest and a few others like it are to be placed around Ocelot for her anniversary. What is the crest of a ship? The history and details of a ship or submarine’s crest speaks volumes to the vessel it was assigned to. A sh ...

This year HM Submarine Ocelot celebrates her 60th birthday. She was the last warship built at Chatham for the Royal Navy and was on duty as a ‘spy’ submarine during the Cold War until she was decommissioned in 1991. Ocelot now forms part of the Historic Ships Collection at The Historic Dockyard Chatham and is visited by thousands of people every year. Preparations have begun with a ‘Big Clean’ where a team of amazing volunteers have been polishing, buffing and generally getting ...

Welcome to our new feature, Warship Wednesday. Each month we’ll be introducing a different Chatham built warship – the facts, the behind the scenes and never seen before photos from our collection. This month, we’re focusing on an important submarine that remains in our care today: HM Submarine Ocelot.   Built in No.7 Slip, Ocelot represents the last phase of shipbuilding at Chatham and she was the last Royal Navy warship built here. Launched in 1962, Ocelot was one of 57 ...

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On this day in 1964, our Historic Warship HM Submarine Ocelot was commissioned. What is a ship commissioning? When a ship is commissioned, there is normally an act or ceremony which declares the ship in active service. HM Submarine Ocelot Ocelot was the last submarine built for the Royal Navy at Chatham Dockyard and today you can still see her and go on board as part of your entry ticket to The Historic Dockyard Chatham. She was one of 57 submarines that were built here and served during the ...

Launched in 1962, HM Submarine Ocelot was the last Royal Navy warship built at Chatham. Equipped with a stealthy diesel electric engine Oberon class submarines such as Ocelot made for the perfect surveillance vessel and were selected to undertake missions in the deep waters of the world’s oceans – some of which remain top secret! Although the Ministry of Defence have yet to release in-depth papers regarding Ocelot’s service, we know that this remarkable vessel clocked up over 90,000 miles ...

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Silvergate Media to bring family-favourite, Octonauts, to The Historic Dockyard Chatham for summer 2022. From Saturday, May 28 until Sunday, September 4 visitors to Medway’s popular visitor attraction will join Captain Barnacles and the Octonauts on an interactive, activity-based adventure through the tides of maritime history, learning the skills required to join the Octo-Crew. Families will collect an O ...

We were honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to The Historic Dockyard Chatham on Wednesday 2 February. This visit was made to show support in advance of our 2022 visitor season opening. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, who has been Patron of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust since 2013, accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain, met with Trust Chairman Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE DL and Richard Morsley, Chief Executive as well as The Mayor of Medway ...