[8] Between March 1980 and August 1982, the Australian Oberons were upgraded to carry United States Navy Mark 48 torpedoes and UGM-84 Sub Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

[11] Ovens was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at Greenock, Scotland on 17 June 1966, launched on 4 December 1967, and commissioned into the RAN on 18 April 1969.

[12] On 3 August, the submarine encountered the launch Sea Witch, abandoned and adrift, about 80 kilometres (50 mi) off Newcastle, New South Wales.

[13] Before returning to home port, Ovens participated in the Kangaroo 2 multinational exercise, which simulated an attack on a coastal area.

[13] Assigned to the Orange (defending) force, Ovens was able to claim successful 'attacks' on 170,000 tonnes (370 million pounds) of shipping, including the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.

[13] Returning to HMAS Platypus after the exercise, the submarine sailed into Sydney Harbour claiming a "clean sweep" by lashing a broom to the attack periscope.

[13] Ovens became the first RAN submarine to fire an armed Mark 48 torpedo, when she sank the decommissioned Bathurst-class corvette HMAS Colac on 4 March 1987.