Great Britain established a
submarine service in 1901. An unofficial crew badge existed during WW-I. Copies of it have been reported in metal and cloth versions.
On 15 July 1971, the
official badge and smaller mess dress were issued for all ranks. The overall styling was reportedly copied from the Australian design. The mess dress badge may not be official. Unofficial miniatures (such as lapel pins) exist. There are bullion dolphins also issued. Unofficial jewelry sterling pieces have been reported. Unofficial WW-II badges have also been
reported.
The USA established a submarine service in 1900. In 1923, Captain Ernest J King submitted a recommendation that a distinguished device be issued for qualified submariners. In March of 1924 the submarine "dolphin" badge was authorized. The badge depicts a submarine proceeding on the surface with a bow profile and bow planes rigged for dive flanked by dolphins. This badge was distinct from other national submarine badges in that the submarine profile was surrounded by two mythological dolphins. Previous badges had subs and crowns and anchors (and UB). CAPT King's design was symbolic of a calm sea and dolphins are the traditional attendants of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. CAPT King later became the US Fleet Admiral. The enlisted silver badge (same design as officer) was authorized in 1950 (many minor types).
During the combat period of WW-II, a combat patrol pin was authorized (26 Mar 1943) . This pin shows the broadside of a "Flying Fish" class submarine proceeding on the surface with a scroll at the bottom for 1/8" stars. The pin was for the first patrol, and a gold star for every additional patrol. Two holes could be bored for up to 5 patrols, with a silver star for 5 patrols in lieu of 5 stars. Also during WW-II, many submarines went to sea with medical officers whose expertise greatly improved the operating environment of the US submarines and thereby improved their performance. On 21 May 1943, a submarine medical officer pin was authorized. The large acorn pins were manufactured by GEMSCO (and perhaps others) and are pictured in full and mess dress below. This pin was revised in 11 August 1952. It was made with a separately made and soldered on acorn and later in one-piece versions. Another difference in the two pins is that the early pin was slightly larger, and possessed bow planes surrounding the medical oak leaf symbol. Solid and hollow versions of the later pin are to be found (hollow most common). All are pictured.
During the build up of nuclear power submarines in the US, military submarine designers were authorized a badge upon sufficient project work and research. This badge became the engineering duty officer badge and was issued 13 July 1950. It was also modified 11 August 1952. The difference between the two badges is that the early version had an E embossed on the sub bow, and the l ater version had a propeller. Solid and hollow versions of the later pin are to be found (hollow most common). This engineering duty officer should not be confused with the concurrent emergence of the nuclear power qualified officer within ADM Rickover's navy commonly known as the Engineer, who was also responsible to qualify to operate the rest of the ship, fight wars, etc. After WW-II, the US also recognized the need for proper logistic supply support to keep the ever increasing submarine fleets operating and on 7 Feb 1964 the
submarine supply officer badge was authorized. Solid and hollow versions of the later pin are to be found (hollow most common).
During the cold war, the importance of maintaining nuclear powered ballistic submarines on deterrent patrol was recognized and on 28 Jan 1969 a pin was issued to denote patrols made. This pin (in silver or pewter- personal preferences allowed here) showed a broadside view of a "LAFAYETTE' class SSBN with a POLARIS missile centered, circled by 3 electron paths (with a scroll across bottom). The pin and stars were award once per patrol cycle for any alert patrol. The pin was for the first patrol, gold stars for subsequent patrols, and silver stars for 5 patrols (the first silver star replaced 4 gold and the implication that the pin itself represented one patrol). These patrol cycles typically lasted between 90 and 105 days, with 60-70 days continuously submerged. The Neptune award is given to all sailors
completing 20 patrols and special recognition is given to the American sailor with the most SSBN patrols. This award consists of a gold SSBN patrol pin.
Of all the badges discussed, all were authorized with a full and mess dress version . The officer (gold) and enlisted (silver) badges are also produced in a subminiature version which is sometimes worn with the uniform as a tie-tack (not a formal part of the uniform). Other unofficial lapel pins and jewelry varieties also exist.
Deep Submergence Insignia (DSV) were approved for issue by the Chief of Naval Operations 6 April 1981. This badge is not to be confused with the DSRV, deep submergence rescue vessels. These DSV badges recognize the navy crews of the TRIESTE, DOLPHIN, TURTLE, SEA CLIFF, NR-1 and ALVIN qualified in submarines who have satisfactorily completed one year in a deep submergence related billet and participated in one deep submergence deployment. The gold badge is for operators and the silver badge is for crew members. There is no reported mess dress of this badge. In April 1971, the crew of the DSV Trieste II developed a pin for wear and submitted it for official approval. The formal issuance of the pin was denied so it is believed that the crew wore these pins informally. Approximately 100-200 sets were made, gold and silver officer and enlisted full size, mess dress and tie tacks. Originally a scroll for stars at the bottom (1 star -crew; 2 stars - hydronaut DSV operator; 3 stars - hydronaut OIC) was intended to be similar to SSBN patrol pins.
As the diesel boats were being decommissioned in the USA because of the increased utilization of nuclear power submarines, a defiant esprit de corps evolved, similar to a smaller sibling trying to prove themselves. This resulted in a "Diesel Boats Forever" (DBF) badge being unofficially produced, and often worn while the officers of these older boats looked aside. Both officer and enlisted mess dress and full size versions have been produced.
In a friendly competition sort of way, another unauthorized badge was produced, this time a modification of ADM King's badge, with a nuclear submarine bow profile rather than the diesel boat profile. These unofficial "SSN" badges were noticed and the wearing of them outlawed by the Commander, Submarine Pacific Fleet in the 1980's by message. An officer and enlisted version exist. These have been misidentified as US Chaplain submarine pins and as Royal or Imperial Iran.
All American badges have many version, often coming in sterling silver, coin silver, gold plated, 1/20th gold filled, solid gold, cast, and hollow back (stamped). Enlisted silver pins come in a bright finish or pewter finish. Manufacturers include, Gemsco, Balfour,
Vanguard, Hilborn-Hamburger and the small manufacturers that they sub-contract. Later versions (1970's & 1980's) of the WW-II
combat pin were issued for those qualified to wear the pin but needing a replacement. "Deep water" dolphins are also to be found. These are also referred to as "1927", Yokosuka, or "West Coast" dolphins. Other variations also go by the same names. There is no definite method known to define the names of these variations, so they were labelled "Deep Water" and "Yokosuka/West Coast" dolphins. Specialty badges were also made. In the late 1970's, enlisted qualification badges in Hawaii were often manufactured out of copper vs. silver, and the commissioning gift for the USS PENNSYLVANIA (SSBN 735) was a set of dolphins made from anthracite coal quarried from the mines of the name state. Many other examples such as these can be found.
Many other pins associated with the United States Submarine Service have been produced. The Electric Boat Company, which builds submarines in Groton, Ct, has produced pins for the sailors associated with each class of nuclear submarine it has built. These sailors were assigned to the shipyard during new const., and at least 15 different pins have been manufactured. These pins are ornamental only and not worn with the uniform. Strategic Systems Projects, the governmental body responsible for the development and deployment of the POLARIS, POSEIDON, and TRIDENT missile and weapons systems and submarines has promulgated 10, 20 and 30 year pins for
those personnel within its programs. These pins are for both civilian and military and are not part of the uniform. The Submarine Veterans of World War II group have several pins they have issued for their members. The Navy Submarine League is an independent group (former military and civilian) whose goal is to support the submarine service, and they, too, have a pin (see the submarine association section of this site). A proposed Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) crew badge was designed in the 1970's but rejected by the Uniform Board. Many other club type pins and badges have been generated. Even Disneyland/ Disneyworld, an amusement organization that runs large model submarines in
fun parks, has issued submarine badges and patches in the past (these are now rare). My US Collection: Regular dolphins Assorted dolphins and badges Cloth dolphins
Venezuela established a submarine service in 1960. The submarine badge was issued in 1960 for officers and enlisted. The requirements for earning the badge is: attend submarine school, qualify on board the submarine, serve on the submarine 6 months (changed from 1 year in 1989). Venezuelan sub badge In 1988, a badge for superior Commanding Officers was issued. The new C.O. insignia has an arch of stars over the sail, from dolphin to dolphin. Copies have been reported with American-styled dolphins.
Yugoslavia established a submarine service in 1920 upon the break up of the Austria/Hungary Empire (utilizing forfeited
submarines). It is not known when the Royal Yugoslavian submarine badge was issued or for whom but examples have been reported. Possible miniatures exist (badges that are similar have been seen). After WW-II, communist Yugoslavia reestablished a submarine service and badges were issued in 1960.
In 1970 the badges were modified so that the original badge was delegated for enlisted personnel and officers would get a new badge, gold for those with greater than tens years service, and silver for those with less than ten years service. The officer badges were serialized. They first appeared in all gold or all silver and were curved. Later versions (of questionable authenticity?) have the sub in gold or silver with the wreath in silver. These later versions were also flat. Unofficial miniatures have been reported. These badges have been difficult to document since the advent of the civil war.
