The two badges on the left are the pre- and post-99
Quadruple Club insignia. To qualify for this badge, you have to meet the following criteria:
-have sailed on 4 submarine types
-be 40 years of age
-have fired 400 torpedoes
-have 4000 days of submarine service
This club has around 40 members.
The two badges on the right are the full size and mini Polar Club insignia. The Swedes had a boat participating on an exercise in Norway in 1996; this was the first time a Swedish sub crossed the arctic circle. The crew made 30 sets of
these, and they still wear them instead of the regular sharks.
The silver old type badge is a special honor badge handed out as a special gift from the submarine service. So far, only four badges have been handed out to high ranking Swedish and foreign officers.
Both the Quad and Polar insignias are worn on the uniforms by those who are entitled to wear them, and are regarded as semi-official badges. These badges are extremely hard to get. The Swedes guard them like state secrets.
Old Turkish Badge
The second scan shows the Turkish 1928-32 CPO badge. It was found in Istanbul in 1998. It is an original badge. It was compared to the badge exhibited at the Turkish submarine museum at the Gulcuk Naval base and it is identical.I wish these were mine, but they are not. I am sworn to secrecy to protect the sources.
