Worldwide Submarine Insignia

Greece experimented with submarines from 1885-1901 and established a submarine service in 1909. The Greek Navy holds the claim to fame of having the first submarine, Delphin, to fire a torpedo in combat during the First Balkan War. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Paparrigouplis, the Delphin fired her torpedoes at a Turkish cruiser on 9 December 1912. The Delphin failed to sink the ship, but it was the key to modern submarine combat.

This drawing from 1945 U.S. Navy Intelligence files shows a gold submarine, starboard side. Worn by all qualified personnel on the left breast. The date of issue is unknown. (GRK-l)

A series of WW-II campaign awards were issued in the late 1940's for WW-II vets in gold, silver and bronze.  

Current officer's and petty officer's version of the Greek Submariner's Badge (GRK-2) in gold metal. Worn on the left breast, it is attached with nut and screw posts. 2.60" x 0.40"

Bullion version of the current officer/petty officer submarine badge. (GRK-2b) Worn on the left breast. 2/90" x 0.50"

OfficerlPetty Officer submarine badge (GRK-2m) in miniature. Attached with clutchpins. 1.70" x 0.25"

Seaman's version of the submariner's badge (GRK-3). In silver, it is the same as the above miniature. This badge is supposedly obsolete now. 1.70" x 0.25"

GRK-2, 3 and 2m

It is unknown when the modern badges were issued, but a gold badge for officers and smaller silver for enlisted exist. After a period of time, junior ratings were removed from submarines, the gold badge became common for both officers and CPO's, and the silver badge became obsolete (it still issued in 1990 for personnel previously authorized to wear them). A smaller gold version exists, possibly an earlier version of the gold badge. Unofficial velcro-backed and non-velcro backed insignia patches also exist.  There are also unit patches/emblems for the submarines.

The Greek submarine force currenly employs 8 of the Type 209 German Submarines (4-1100 and 4-1200 with one 1200 AIP) and 4 Type 214 German Submarines.

India has the largest Navy for a Third World country. It joined the submarine arena in 1967 with the Kalvari Class submarine. Thanks to German, Russian, and Indian built submarines, the fleet has grown considerably. The Indian Submarine Force tried their hand against the Pakistan Navy but it was unsuccessful due to the lack of departures of ship from Pakistan ports. As of December 2017, the Navy's sub-surface fleet includes 1 nuclear-powered attack submarine, 1 Ballistic missile submarine 14 conventionally-powered attack submarines. The conventional attack submarines of the Indian Navy consist of the Kalvari (French Scorpène-class submarine design), the Sindhughosh (Russian Kilo-class submarine design) and the Shishumar (German Type 209/1500 design) classes.

The national emblem is a design from the Pillar of Sarnath, the capital of the Great Emperor Ashoka. The emblem shows three of the four lions on the pillar and below them is the Chakra (wheel). A galloping horse is on the left part of the wheel and a bull on the right.

The current Indian Submarine badge has two dolphins riding on top of the ocean and facing into the national emblem. They are made in gold anodized aluminum and brass. It worn by all qualified personnel. The badge has a bent clip attachment or a saftey pin attachment.  IND-1 is 2.80" x 0.090".

This is the only authorized Indian Submarine Badge. In gold metal, it displays an Ashoka above the waves, supported by two dolphins in the American manner. It is worn by all qualified submarine personnel, officers and enlisted. Shown by two different manufacturers, (IND-l) is not as detailed as (IND-lv).  It is unjknown as to ow many manufacturing variations there are.

There are no known official bullion or cloth versions, but they probably do exist. These are made in gold anodized aluminum (IND-l) or brass (IND-lv), and have a bent clip attachment (IND-l) or a safety pin (IND-lv), all the same size.

These two badges appear to be official but are not. The bullion version on the left (IND-2x), though very nice, is a fake based on the British or Australian badge which appeared much later. Ironically, it is probably made in Pakistan. The one on the right (IND-3x) is made on the same dies as the authentic version above but in silver metal. There is no authorization for a silver Submarine Badge in the Indian Navy.



The first submarine for Spain was designed in 1859 by two marine engineers. It was steam powered and was armed with a cannon and a drill for boring holes in enemy vessels. This design was never accepted by the Navy. Even in 1888, another submarine design which carried one torpedo tube and was battery powered was brushed under the rug and was not widely recognized.In 1916, the United States sold the Spanish Navy Holland design sub designated as the B Class. Over the next fourteen years six more improved B and C Class subs were built. During the same time, the Spanish Navy operated three Fiat boats designated the A Class.

During the Civil War of Spain, the Republicans gained control of the submarine but were unsuccessful since the Nationalist were supported by Germany and Italy who supplied subs and crew members. The Republicans lost five subs while the Nationalists lost none. At the end of the civil war, the submarine fleet only consisted of a B Class and 2 C Class. These were complemented with the new improved D Class sub.

The Spanish received a Balao Class sub from the U.S. in 1959 and eventually 4 Guppy II Class fro m1972 to 1974. After the diesels became absent in the United States, Spain turned to France to obtain Daphne Class designs. This in turn created the Delfin Class and Galerna Class of the Spanish fleet of today.

Spanish collector and badge vendor Diego Quevedo Carmona has a great history of Los Distintivos Del Arma Submarina Espanola. This summary is taken from his work and other sources.

The first is SPN-1 from Pritchard's book. Roughly translated, Quevedo's text says: During the era of DON ALFONSO XIII, the central oval had two different colors: The RED one was for the personnel embarked in submarines or who served previously. The BLUE one was for the students in the Submarine school and for those who had completed the course of submarines but had not still embarked in them.  Pritchard's book claimed it was issued on the 5th of September, 1919, the first Spanish Royal Navy Submariner's Badge (Distintivo de Submarinos) (SPN-1) came with one of two colors in the oval, red for qualified personnel and blue for those in training. Topped by the crown (Bourbon) of Alfonso XIII, which was sometimes attached and sometimes separate. Worn on the right chest by officers and petty officers, on the right sleeve by seamen, this badge was in use through] 931. Gilt cliche construction and pinback. Embroidered cloth versions exist.

Next is SPN-2. During the REPLUBLICAN era, when the monarchy fell on the 14 of April of 1931, one of the first acts was to remove the crown from use. It says that or something to that effect. During the Second Republic, 1931-1939, the Submarine Badge (Distintivo de Submarinos) (SPN-2) was the same as under Alphonso XIII, except that the crown above the periscope shears was eliminated. Worn on the right breast by officers and petty officers and on the right sleeve by seamen. Gilt cliche construction and pin back. per Pritchard.


Now it gets interesting. The third badge shown is also from the Republican era. By order of the 25th of April of 1931 it was decreed that all the emblems of the Navy would depict the Mural crown. Like newer versions and with respect to the previous ones, it incorporates an anchor and he was used by the admiralty. It only existed with a red oval.


Next is a similar badge, or as Quevedo said they "created a new symbol for the sergeant majors and ship's crew" which is this bullion piece.


Next we have a badge for those Italians who served in Spanish Republican submarines the Spanish Civil War. ITL-6 in Pritchard, this badge was gold metal for officers and petty officers (as recreated by Bill Crosby last year) and in red embroidery for seamen. Depicted is the seaman version. From the Spanish site: "When the fight escalated, all the submarines are under the power of the Republic and the officials obtained support from the Governments of Germany and Italy to obtain the use, or the collaboration of, some of their submarines. As a result of this, German submarines carried out military missions against Republican interests (for example the submarines Spanish C-3 were torpedoed and sunk in front of Malaga by the U-34 under the control of Lieutenant Commander Harald Grose), and Italian submarines mounted attacks against Spanish ships (torpedoing of the cruiser Miguel de Cervantes in waters off Cartagena, that left it declared unfit for service during greater part of the rest of the war, among other actions). The German submarines always acted under the flag and control of Germans, not the Italians, who unfurled Spanish and Italian banners. These submarines, were known as the submarine legion, and their dowries took the emblem of the Third. When the war was finished, two of these submarines served in the Spanish Navy until 1959 when they were stricken from the lists of the Navy. One is about the Archímede and the Torricelli that changed their names to those of General Mola and General Sanjurjo, respectively."


The first Soviet badge is for those Soviet submariners who distinguished themselves in the Nationalist efforts (only worn in 1938). I believe these advisors were directing and training the Spanish Nationalist submariners. The translation I got off the internet seemed to say that the Soviets were basically in charge in 1938.


The next badge is for "the Soviets who helped out on board but who were not in control" or basically for the adviors to the Republican submariners.


Next is the badge for the subordinate Soviets.


Next is a direct trnalation from the web, "By Ministerial order of date 11 of May of 1938, the Submarine Mail service is created, to connect the ports of republican Spain with Menorca, the only island of the Balearic set still into the hands of the Government. A line between Barcelona and Mahón settled down being the C-4 the one in charge of the trips that took place between the mentioned ports. Of Barcelona the submarine mentioned one to 20:00 weighed anchor for Mahón hours of the 12 of August of 1938, arriving on the following day. Of Mahón it weighed anchor for Barcelona to 22:00 hours of the 17 of the same month and year. Post office used in the trip, as much in a sense as in another one, only two extractions that contained a total of three hundred letters, in charge of the civil employee of the Service of Post office, D. Tomás Orós Gimeno. This emblem embroidered to the effect, went sewing in one of the two extractions. In the inferior part the letters C and S can be seen, that mean Submarine Mail. Among them it appears on of correspondence." What I get out of that is a submarine mail service (CS being "Correos Submarinos") for the republicans to pass mail covertly. I thought this might also be for Soviet Nationalist supporters due to the red star, but it turned out to be the republican submarine mail service.

After the Spanish Civil War in 1940, the shape of the Submariner's Badge (Distintivo de Submarinos) changed to a more modern submarine and was topped by the Franco regime Regent's Coronet. The oval enamel section became a jewel or stone.  Red signifies in training but not on submarines. SPN-3, 2.60" x 0.84"

Green was for personnel trained and on submarines.  SPN-4 and similar below are the same size as above.

This next variety, (SPN-5), with the black stone at center designates those who have served at least two years in a submarine support billet. Worn in the manner of the older badges. Gilt cliche construction and a pinback attachment. Cloth and bullion versions exist for 3 to 5.

 SPN-3b

Miniature versions also exist of the above. This is SPN-3m, 1.35" x 0.56".

Diego Quevedo Carmona writes, "EPOCA FRANQUiSTA. The silhouette of the embIem submarinista changes to a that (reminiscent) to the submarines “General Mola” and “General Sanjuro of Italian origin. The “stone’’ there (was) of three distinct colors: Red for all the persomei of any category in possession of the courses reglamentarios, they (did) not embark in Submarines. Green for all the personneI of any category performing (the) course of specialty (official) or aptitude (suboficiales or marineria). Black for the personnel that had some destiny "related” with the Underwater Weapon (by a most minimum period of 2 years), but in no case was in possession neither of the speciaity neither of the aptitude. The models of this emblem suffered some small variation, aa is appreciated in the photos, but it only (was) due to the (various) manufacturers.

Changed after the accession of Juan Carlos to the Spanish throne in 1975, the Submariner's Badge (Distintivo de Submarinos) had the coronet changed back to a version of the Bourbon crown ofAlfonso XIII. The vents and an addition of a net cutter are different in some variants. Some versions omit the net cutter and have a slightly larger crown. Some red jeweled badges have red enamel in the crowns. Worn on right breast by officers and petty officers and on the right sleeve by seamen.

These two examples of the early Juan Carlos era badges have the cable cutter on the front, but the one on the left, (SPN-6), has a plain gold Bourbon crown while the one on the right, (SPN·6vl), has a red enameled crown. Both of these have clutchback fasteners and are of cliche construction.

Another variant, (SPN-6v2), that has no cable cutter but has the red enamel in the Bourbon crown. It is of cliche construction and attaches with a safety type pin with a bent pin in the crown. All three of these badges designate those who have passed the submarine specialty course. Cloth and bullion versions exist.

Miniature ofthe red jewel version ofthe Submariner's badge. (SPN6m) It has a safety type pin and is of cliche construction.

The same as the preceding badge SPN-6 but with a green jewel designating having passed the submarine aptitude test (SPN-7). It is of cliche construction and attaches with a safety type pin with a bent pin in the crown. Cloth and bullion versions exist.

Also as the preceding badges but with a black stone designating at least 2 years in a submarine support billet (SPN-8). It is of cliche construction and attaches with a safety type pin with a bent pin in the crown. Cloth and bullion versions exist.

Diego Quevedo Carmona writes, "EPOCH OF JUAN CARLOS l (1976-1986). To the (reinstitution) of the Monarchy, returned the real crown.  The emblem in itself is the same one that that of the previous epoch, (even) the colors of the stones; (all that is) changed the type of crown.   This distinctive one by Ministerial Order was created # 990/78 dated 7 of November (Daily OfficiaI of the Department of Marine # 257/78 ), three years after the death of Franco, although its’ use already was (common) since (the) principles of 1976."

The current Spanish Submarine badge (Distintivo de Submarinos) authorized in 1986, harks back to the original 1919 version. It is smaller and ofsolid gilt metal construction with a clutch pin fastener. The Juan Carlos version of the Bourbon crown is picked out in red enamel. It is worn on the right breast for officers and petty officers and on the right sleeve for seamen.

This version of the new style badge has a large red jewel, (SPN-9), and is worn by those who have passed the submarine specialty course. Attached by three clutch pins. Cloth and bullion versions exist.

The green jeweled version of the badge, (SPN-1O), is worn by those who have passed the submarine aptitude exam. Attached by three clutch pins. Cloth and bullion versions exist.

The black stone normally designates those who have held submarine staff or support billets for at least 2 years, but when the badges changed style in 1986 there was no authorization for this badge (SPN-11x). It is completely bogus. 

Though they are not official issue items, bullion versions of the two current badges can be bought privately and are worn on the current uniform (SPN-9b) and (SPN-1Ob)