The History of the Ships Name.

H.M. Submarine Otter which was commissioned on 29th August 1962 was the fourteenth ship to bear the name in the Royal Navy.

The first was a four-gun sloop built at Deptford in 1700.

The second was fourteen-gun, sixth rate, built by Robert Smith, of Rotherhithe, in 1709.

Number three, a four-gun sloop, was built at Deptford in 1721.

The fourth was a fourteen-gun sloop built by J. Buxton at Rotherhithe in 1742. She served at La Guayra in 1743.

The fifth Otter, a sixteen-gun sloop, was built at Deptford in 1767 and served as a fishery protection ship off Newfoundland in 1772 and 1773. She was wrecked off Cape Canaveral.

In 1778 Gambier captured a ship from the Americans which became the sixth H.M.S. Otter. She was commissioned as a sloop and served at the battles of Penobscot 1779, and Cape Fear 1781, during the American War of Independance.

Otter number seven was a fourteen-gun sloop built at Sandwich in 1782. She was rigged as a brig and converted to a fire ship in 1793. In 1801 she took part in the Battle of Copenhagen, forming part of Captain Riou's squadron.

The eighth ship of the name was a revenue cutter, 1793 to 1806.

The ninth Otter was an eighteen-gun sloop built by Atkinson of Hull, in 1805. She took part in operations at Mauritius and Rodriques in 1809 and assisted in the capture of the French ship Venus in September 1810.

The Paddle Steam Packet Wizard, built at Harwich in 1827 was renamed Otter in 1837 and fitted out as a gun-vessel. She was employed in the Baltic during the Crimean War in Sir Charles Napier's fleet. Another unit of this force wa\s the battleship Odin.

Otter number eleven was a twin-screw Steel Colonial Gunboat.

The destroyer Otter was built at Barrow-in-Furness in 1896 and served on the China station. She was sold at Hong Kong in 1915.

The thirteenth ship of this name was a yacht which served in the 1914-18 war.

The fourteenth Otter was an Oberon class submarine which was laid down on 14th January 1960.
She was launched by Mrs. Michael Sinclair-Scott on 15th ay 1961, this being the 250th year of Scotts' Shipbuilding Company.
She commissioned for service in the Second Submarine Squadron on 29th August 1962 under the Command of Lieutenant Commander N.J. Gilbert, Royal Navy

Builders:

Keel Laid Down:

Launched:

Commissioned:

Standard Displacement:

Length:

Beam:

Armament:

Scotts' Shipbuilding and Engineering Company

14th January 1960.

15th May 1961.

29th August 2962.

1,600 tons.

295ft 3in

26ft 6in

Eight 21in torpedo tubes

Ships Company on Commissioning
29th August 1962.

Lt. Commander N.J. Gilbert - In Command.

Lt. Commander H.T. Wolfe - Engineer Officer.

Lieutenant M. Ruddle - First Lieutenant.

Lieutenant A.T. Wardale - Electrical Officer.

Lieutenant J.P. Speller - Navigating Officer.

Lieutenant R.B. Steadman (Deceased) - T.A..S. Officer.

A/C.P.O. Cox'n C.T. Castle.
P.O. U.C.1. W. Robinson.
L/Sea. U.C.2. B. Pearce.
A/L/Sea. U.C.*. J. Angus.(Deceased)
A/L/Sea. U.C.*. B.M. Whelan.
A.B. U.C.*. D. Hall.
A.B. U.C.*. P.T. Aldridge.
A.B. U.C.*. A.W. Garlinge.
P.O. R.S. M.B. Godly.
L.R.O. K.W. Tuson.
R.O.2. D. Hallas.
R.O.2. T.J. Furnival.
T.O.2. A.J.V. Batten.
P2Ck2 D.J. Kearns (RCN).
Ck(S) G.A. Bilsborrow.
P.O. 2nd Cox'n A.S. Grant.
L/Sea. U.W.1. A.G. Wotton.
A.B. U.W.2. C.H. Hewson.
A.B. U.W.*. A. Humphrey.
A.B. U.W.*. A.S. Thompson.
A.B. U.W.*. W.F. Prowse.
A.B. U.W.*. A.L. Thornton.
A.B. U.W.*. G. Harrison.
L/Sea. R.P.2. D. Willcock.
A/L/Sea. R.P.*. C.N.B. Thomas.
A.B. R.P.*. F. Rodgers.
P.O.R.E. E.J. Wilson.
L.R.E.M. M. Vagges.
L/Stwd. T. Hinchliffe.
C.E.R.A. R.G. Dickie.
E.R.A.1. R.E. Pakey.
E.R.A.1. B.J.G. Pellett.
O.A.1. J.L. Todd.
A/Ch.M.(E). A.M. Rae.
L.M.(E). M. Barnes.
L.M.(E). F. Armstrong.
M.(E).1. R. Smith.
M.(E).1. T.J.T. Metcalf.
M.(E).1. D. Drake.
M.(E).1. K. Douglas.
E.R.A.1. B. Percival.
E.R.A.1. N. Morris.
Mech.2. J. McKenzie.
P.O.M.(E). J. Taylor.
L.M.(E). B. Thompson.
L.M.(E). P. Wells.
M.(E).1. G.J. Foad.
M.(E).1. A. Morell.
M.(E).1. T. Stott.
M.(E).1. M. Day.
M.(E).1. N. Folds.
M.(E).1. I. Wilson.
E.A.1. B.L. Turnbull.
E.A.1. J.P. White.
A/L.E.M. M. Harding.
E.M.1. R. Daniel.
Ch. Elec. R. Parkin.
L.E.M. R. Bottrill.
E.M.1. N.E. Whiting.
E.M.1. A.M. Stratford.