Submarine Force Insignia

The Submariner

Only a submariner realizes to what great extent an entire ship depends on him as an individual. To a landsman this is not understandable and sometimes it is even difficult for us to comprehend, but it is so!  A submarine at sea is a different world in herself, and in consideration of the protracted and distant operations of submarines, the Navy must place responsibility and trust in the hands of those who take such ships to sea. In each submarine there are men who, in the hour of emergency or peril at sea, can turn to each other. These men are ultimately responsible to themselves and each to the other for all aspects operation of their submarine. They are the crew. They are the ship. This is perhaps the most difficult and demanding assignment in the Navy. There is not an instant during his tour as a submariner that he can escape the grasp of responsibility. His privileges in view of his obligations are almost ludicrously small, nevertheless, it is the spur which has given the Navy its greatest mariners - the men of the Submarine Service.  It is a duty which most richly deserves the proud and time honored title of "Submariner".

The origin of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service Insignia dates back to 1923.  On 13 June of that year, Captain Ernest J. King, USN, later to become Fleet Admiral and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II, and at that time Commander Submarine Division Three, suggested to the Secretary of the Navy, via the old Bureau of Navigation, that a distinguishing device for qualified submariners be adopted.  A Philadelphia firm, which had done work for the Navy previously, was approached with the request that it undertake the design of a suitable badge.

Many people are interested in the history and development of Navy traditions. One Navy tradition involves the wearing of Dolphins by qualified submariners. "Earning Dolphins" is a significant event in a Navy submariner's career - one of those special high points that instill tremendous personal pride and a sense of accomplishment.  Dolphins are earned through a process of "Qualifying". Individuals must learn the location of equipment, operation of systems, damage control procedures and have a general knowledge of operational characteristics of their boat. Dolphin wearers qualify initially on one boat and must requalify on boats to which they are subsequently assigned. Once Dolphins have been earned, they are awarded by the Commanding Officer in a special ceremony.

Two designs were submitted to the firm and these were combined into a single design. It was the design in use today. A bow view of a submarine, proceeding on the surface, with bow planes rigged for diving, flanked by Dolphins in horizontal positions with their heads resting on the upper edge of the bow planes.  Dolphins, traditional attendants to Poseidon, Greek god of the sea and patron deity of sailors, are symbolic of a calm sea.

The Officer's Insignia was and is a gold plated metal pin, worn centered above the left breast pocket and above the ribbons or medals. Enlisted men wore the insignia embroidered in silk, in white on blue for blue clothing and in blue on white for white clothing. This was sewn on the outside of the right sleeve, midway between the wrist and elbow. The device was two and three-quarters inches long. In mid 1947 the embroidered device shifted from the sleeve of the enlisted men's jumper to above the left breast pocket. Subsequently, silver metal Dolphins were approved for enlisted men.

In more recent time, Dolphins for specialist officers in the submarine force have been developed. These include the Engineering Duty Officer Dolphins, Medical Officer Dolphins, and Supply Corps Dolphins. Regardless of the color of the pin or the insignia at the center, Dolphins are worn with pride by members of the Submarine Force.

The Insignia of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service is a submarine flanked by two dolphins..

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